Slovakia - June 2024

On 20 June, the Parliament approved a law to abolish the current public media broadcaster, Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS), and replace it with Slovak Television and Radio (STVR). Opposition MPs boycotted the vote. Prime Minister Robert Fico claimed the changes were needed due to RTVS's “political bias and conflict with the government.” The law, first introduced in March, sparked protests and concerns over media independence from journalists, media freedom organizations, then-President Zuzana Čaputová, and European Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová. In response, the government removed some elements of the bill, including a politically appointed council to coordinate the programming. Despite amendments, the law still permits early dismissal of the current Director-General and Supervisory Board, and grants government control over the STVR Board, violating the European Media Freedom Act. President Peter Pellegrini signed the law on 30 June, and it takes effect on 1 July.

Sources: International IDEA, Associated Press, Euractiv, Jurist, Balkan Insight, International Press Institute, European Federation of Journalists, The Slovak Spectator