Hundreds of Slovaks protested on Friday night towards the federal government of Prime Minister Robert Fico. The demonstrations happened in Sovakia’s two largest cities, Bratislava and Košice.The 2 liberal opposition events Progressive Slovakia (PS) and Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) referred to as for the rallies.The events accused Fico’s authorities of desirous to deliver the nation’s public broadcaster, Radio and Tv of Slovakia (RTVS), below its management and threaten press freedom. Demonstrators carried banners with slogans like, “We will not give up RTVS!”What’s the federal government’s plan for RTVS?In keeping with the plan drafted by Tradition Minister Martina Simkovicova, RTVS is to be formally dissolved and remodeled into a brand new establishment referred to as “STaR” (brief for “Slovak Television and Radio”).A brand new seven-member council with members nominated by the federal government and parliament would selectits director, though the present one has a parliamentary mandate till 2027.The council would have a proper to dismiss the director with out giving any cause.Greater than a thousand RTVS staff signed a name to protest and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), to which RTVS belongs, additionally criticized the plan as a risk to media independence. Since Fico’s return to energy in 2023, there have been protests in cities and cities throughout Slovakia, together with towards Fico’s plan to alter the justice system that many worry poses a risk to the rule of regulation.
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