(Reuters) – A group of press freedom organisations has expressed concern about the Slovak government’s proposal to reduce funding to state broadcaster RTVS and divide the group into radio and television units, warning that it could undermine its independence and threaten media freedom. The open letter addressed to Slovakia’s president, lawmakers, and culture minister, emphasized the potential negative impact of Prime Minister Robert Fico’s plan to exert control over RTVS and the funding cuts on press freedom.
The unexpected decrease in RTVS’s annual funding creates pressure on the public media to seek extra subsidies, which could compromise its independence, the letter said, according to a copy on Reporters Without Borders’ (RSF) website. The government office and the Culture Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Signed by press freedom groups including RSF, International Press Institute, European Federation of Journalists, Free Press Unlimited, European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, and European Broadcasting Union, the letter appealed to lawmakers to reject the funding cuts and find a sustainable financing system.
Last month, Fico resumed his role as prime minister, leading a leftist-nationalist coalition after an election in which he criticized liberal policies, Slovakia’s Western allies, and media critical of him and his SMER-SSD party. He also cut communication with four leading domestic news outlets, accusing them of failing to provide truthful information.
As part of budget savings, his government is proposing to reduce the broadcaster’s funding to 0.12% of gross domestic product from 0.17%. The government also announced plans to split RTVS into TV and radio services in an effort to secure independent reporting and support original Slovak programming.
(Reporting by Jan Lopatka and Jason Hovet in Prague; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
