The Government and the Culture Ministry employ constitutional ways to ensure plurality and public character of the public broadcaster, Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova (SNS nominee) stated at the end of parliamentary debate on Thursday. She rejected the allegations that the bill undermines democracy and took objection to reservations voiced by the opposition. In her view, the shaping of STVR is in full accordance with all commitments stemming from Slovakia's membership in the EU. According to recent surveys, RTVS tops the rankings on news objectivity.
The Culture Minister denied that the STVR act was not in line with the European legislation as pointed out by the opposition. Branislav Grohling, Sas: “They have no facts, no arguments and no data. They talk general phrases and they are not capable of answering a single question why they are in fact doing this and what is the goal of this draft.”
Opposition parties talk about the destruction of the public character of this institution that will be fully controlled by government power. The Christian Democrats want to address the president. MP Jozef Hajko: “We think that exactly his stance to this act might be the first task for Peter Pellegrini as the new President so to confirm what he said in his inauguration speech that he wants to be the President of beacon of peace and to be here for all.”
On Friday, Pellegrini stated that he will not succumb to media pressure. If he finds nothing unconstitutional in the law, he will sign it.
TASR, RTVS
