Culture Minister: Freedom and journalistic independence won't end in STVR

Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova (SNS nominee) rejects statements, according to which the freedom and journalistic independence of public broadcaster will end with its restructuring into the Slovak Television and Radio (STVR).

"On the contrary, the new bill on STVR explicitly demands of the STVR programming the production of unbiased, well-balanced and plural news reporting on the developments in Slovakia," Simkovicova posted in a social network video.

The Culture Minister also rejects concerns about the erosion of independence and destruction of democracy. "The bill will improve conditions for members of the journalistic profession and all content producers in the public service. It doesn't ask for anything else but true objectivity," she claimed.

In Simkovicova's view, the demands introduced by the new law cannot serve as the reason for strikes and added that the passing of the bill took place under the pall of "political and activist hysteria".

She posted the video on Friday, a day after she was not present at the Parliamentary Committee for Culture and Media where she was invited by opposition MPs. The meeting was attended by representatives of the RTVS employees strike committee.

Source: TASR, RTVS