Member of the European Parliament Romana Tomc recently wrote a letter to Věra Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission. In it, she asked her about the measures that Jorová has announced in the preparation of media legislation.
In particular, MEP Tomc wanted to know Jourová’s position on what is happening at the politically usurped national media outlet Radio-Television Slovenia (RTVS). “I am writing to you since you promised a steadfast commitment to media freedom and vigilant monitoring of developments surrounding the political takeover of RTV. Considering this, I pose the following inquiries, as your responses are crucial in shedding light on the stance of the European Commission and yourself, particularly concerning actions that may compromise the rule of law and jeopardize media freedom,” she wrote in her introduction.
We are publishing the questions that MEP Tomc addressed to Věra Jourová in their entirety below.
“1. What is your response to the decision by the current management of RTV to withdraw the proposal for the constitutional review of the Radio-Television Slovenia Act?
During your visit to the Constitutional Court, you expressed a desire for expeditious rulings regarding the constitutional review of the RTV Slovenia Act. The withdrawal of the constitutional review proposal implies the removal of the possibility for the Constitutional Court to assess the compatibility of the Radio-Television Slovenia Act with the Slovenian constitution. Simultaneously, this reinforces the notion that the Radio-Television Slovenia Act was conducted in contravention of the constitution, with the sole objective of fully politicizing public media. I am curious to hear your reflections on why the current RTV Slovenia management might shy away from constitutional scrutiny.
- What is your perspective on the removal of certain journalists from their positions and the cancellation of broadcasts critical of the Government following the appointment of the new management at RTV?
I am seeking your response to the recent dismissals of journalists and the cancellation of broadcasts critical of the Government under the new management of RTV. The abrupt termination of positions, coupled with reported instances of relentless mobbing, particularly targeting those journalists not fully aligned with the new leadership and the Government, raises serious questions. Some journalists even sought medical assistance due to the stressful environment. The cancellation of shows that provided critical perspectives on government actions hints at a concerning trend. We have previously provided you with detailed information on these matters. Furthermore, a recent development has been the rumoured cancellation of a satirical show notorious for being critical of the current Government.
- What is your assessment of the Prime Minister’s public declaration advocating the need to purge the Police force and RTV Slovenia of individuals he slanderously labelled as “Janšists”?
As I have already pointed out in my past writings, the Prime Minister made public statements regarding the necessity to “cleanse” the police and RTV of “Janšists.” The Prime Minister’s proclamations came following the resignation of the Minister of Internal Affairs, who accused him of political interference in police staffing. On the surface, his words indicate a desire to remove individuals associated with the policies of the former Prime Minister Janez Janša, however, the term “Janšists” has a broader meaning in Slovenia – it is applied to all those critical of the current Government’s policies. Please note that the Prime Minister insisted on specific personnel changes within the police force based on his personal preferences, thus it becomes evident that he harbours similar expectations for RTV Slovenia. I am eager to obtain your perspective on the repercussions of explicit political declarations concerning the “cleansing processes” pledged by the Prime Minister.
- Given the current developments in the Slovenian media landscape, do you believe that media freedom is assured in Slovenia?
- What steps does the European Commission plan to take to safeguard the rule of law and uphold media freedom in Slovenia?
I am expecting to receive accurate responses at your earliest convenience.”
The European Commissioner is running her last lap
Věra Jourová will be remembered by the Slovenian democratic public for her explicit sympathy for the domestic political left. She has also occasionally been directly involved in our daily politics. For example, she visited the Slovenian Constitutional Court, met with journalist activists at RTV, and politicians such as Urška Klakočar Zupančič, Asta Vrečko, and Dominika Švarc Pipan. The official reason for the visit was to fight disinformation. The official interpretation has been questioned by the democratic public. The MEP therefore asked the Commissioner to disclose the topics of the recorded conversations. To date, the Slovenian public has not received any real response to this request.
However, Commissioner Jourová is leaving the political arena soon. She recently announced that she needs a “political detox”. And even before her departure, another European ally of the Slovenian transition left, Sophie in ‘t Veld, announced her retirement from political life. The latter has also been highly instrumental in the fight against the political forces of the right.
Ž. K.
