Robert Fico’s Slovak government takes control of the public media: with the new law it will have direct control over the top management

The Slovakian government of Prime Minister Robert Fico has launched a measure that could undermine press freedom in the European nation. The law, which will be examined by Parliament in the coming weeks, introduces changes in the way in which the nine members of the executive committee of the public broadcaster RTVS are appointed. The Ministry of Culture […]

The Prime Minister’s Slovak government Robert Fico has launched a measure that could put the freedom of the press in the European nation. The law, which will be examined by Parliament in the coming weeks, introduces changes to the way in which the nine are appointed members of the executive committee of the public radio and television broadcaster RTVS. The Ministry of Culture will be able to designate four members while the other five will be chosen by Parliament, allowing the executive to exercise an direct control on radio and television leadersgiven that the general director of the network is designated by the executive committee.

The move was strongly criticized by opposition political parties and international organizations such as Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The centre-right movement SaS he announced, as reported by the portal Barron’sThat “RTVS will be transformed into a media that produces disinformation and which it transmits propaganda pro-government”, while RSF raised the alarm about the erosion of press freedom in the country and urged the government to protect journalists.

Vera JourovaEuropean Commissioner for Values ​​and Transparency, recently met the Minister of Culture, Martina Šimkovičováand other members of the executive of Bratislava. The vice-president of the Commission, as reported by Euractivexpressed on X his “growing concerns about press freedom and the safety of journalists in Slovakia. The public media – Jourová clarified – have a great responsibility and must be independent and strong in all member states”. And she then added that during the meeting she “emphasized that she respected the Media Freedom Act” launched by Brussels.

The new regulation, as reported by the European Parliament portal, was approved with 464 votes in favour, 92 votes against and 65 abstentions by the European Parliament and obliges Member States to protect the independence of the media by prohibiting any form of interference in editorial decisions. The concern expressed by Brussels over the Bratislava measure is, in reality, symptomatic of a broader worsening of relations between Slovakia and the European Union started after the consultations last September. Parliamentary elections led to the formation of a government populist and in some respects Euroscepticled by the party Direction-Social Democracy of Fico who brought about a decisive change in Bratislava’s internal and foreign policy compared to previous governments. These included the suspension of military aid to Ukrainethe expression of political closeness to Russia Vladimir Putin and to Hungary’s Viktor Orbanstrong opposition towards independent media and non-governmental organizations with the passing of laws along the lines of those in force in Budapest.

The executive’s grip strengthened after the victory of Peter Pellegrini, former prime minister and head of the government party Voce-Socialdemocracy, at the recent presidential consultations. The former Head of State, Zusana Caputovaan expression of moderate and pro-European forces, had decided not to run again following the threats (even death) received during his first mandate and his withdrawal put an end to a significant source of opposition to the government. Pellegrini’s teaching will guarantee Fico even greater control over the Slovak state apparatus and could prove to be a harbinger of a further rapprochement with Orban’s Hungary.

According to the portal Visegrad Insight, an important platform for analysis and debate on Central Europe, Pellegrini’s victory could bring Slovakia closer to autocracy in the near future. Whether this is excessive alarm or a correct forecast will be determined by the next few years but, at least for now, concerns remain about the crackdown on the media and other controversial positions taken by Fico.