Populist government of Slovakia abolishes public broadcasting – Joop

The government of populist and pro-Russian Prime Minister Robert Fico, who defeated a progressive anti-corruption candidate in September, is abolishing Slovakia’s independent public broadcaster. In its place will be a state broadcaster that will broadcast programs approved by the government. According to the ultra-nationalist Minister of Culture Martina Simkovicova, the reporting of the public broadcaster RTVS is “too mainstream”. Simkovicova previously worked at a channel that spread Russian propaganda and disinformation about corona.

The new broadcaster is obliged, among other things, to broadcast the national anthem every day on radio and television. Opposition groups want to call for help from the European Union because the measure conflicts with European legislation that protects independence

Thousands of Slovaks have taken to the state in the capital Bratislava in protest against the plans. Journalists, opposition parties and the European Union are also concerned. The umbrella organization of European broadcasters, EBU, has already warned against “state-controlled media”. Public broadcasters elsewhere in Europe are also under pressure from far-right parties. When the ultra-conservative PiS party was in power in Poland, the broadcaster turned TVP into a mouthpiece for the government. In neighboring Hungary, Viktor Orbán also has the media under his control.

In the Netherlands, Geert Wilders wants to abolish public broadcasting. He is negotiating about this with VVD, NSC and BBB, who all also want to intervene in the provision of public information.