25/04/2024 - The new legislative changes in the country’s cultural sector, particularly impacting film and media, signal a pivotal shift towards increased governmental control

Radio and Television Slovakia director Ľuboš Machaj and the country's Culture Minister, Martina Šimkovičová (© Dano Veselsky/TASR)

The Slovakian cultural sector is undergoing significant shifts under the stewardship of Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová. The country’s government approved a new law on 24 April that could significantly impact the leadership and operational independence of Radio and Television Slovakia, a public broadcaster that often serves as a co-producer of domestic films, leading to the dismissal of the current director, Ľuboš Machaj, after parliamentary approval. The draft law, initiated by Šimkovičová, has faced both domestic and international criticism, with accusations that the government is attempting to control the public broadcaster. Although a contentious provision to establish a programming council was removed following critiques of potential censorship, the new legislation prevents the dismissal of future directors without cause, marking a shift in governance.

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Under the new law, the current director's term and those of the board members will end, with a new board appointed by parliament to oversee the transition to a new director, managed by an interim director chosen by the parliamentary chairman. Furthermore, the name of the pubcaster changes from Radio and Television Slovakia (RTVS) to Slovak Television and Radio (STVR). The legislative changes, seen as a move by the coalition government to address perceived biases at RTVS, have been criticised by opposition parties and the European Broadcasting Union as a threat to media independence, spotlighting the tensions between government influence and media freedom. Over 1,200 RTVS employees and external collaborators have signed an open letter and released a video protesting against the Slovak Ministry of Culture's proposed changes, urging the public to support their stand for a free and objective media environment.

Further changes are anticipated as the Slovak Parliamentary Committee for Culture and Media has endorsed a significant legislative amendment affecting the Slovak Arts Council. This body, which also supports domestic film-related initiatives, will see a shift in its decision-making structure. The proposed changes will transfer final decision-making authority from expert appraisal committees to an expanded board dominated by appointees from the Ministry of Culture. This board will have the power to overrule the recommendations made by the advisory expert committees, which will henceforth assume a consultative role. This legislative change has ignited a robust debate regarding the balance between political oversight and autonomous decision-making in the distribution of cultural grants in Slovakia. Critics, including opposition party members, argue that these adjustments compromise the independence of the Arts Council. Conversely, supporters assert that the changes are designed to enhance the transparency and efficacy of the council’s operations. The contentious nature of this shift is underscored by the reaction of the arts community: over 130 experts, nearly half of the members of the Slovak Arts Council’s expert committees, have announced they will resign en masse should the legislation be enacted.

Further legislative proposals extend to the Slovak Audiovisual Fund, the principal funding body for film and audiovisual projects in the country. The new proposal seeks to expand the supervisory committee of the Slovak Audiovisual Fund from three to five members, thereby increasing state oversight. This expansion includes appointments directly made by the Minister of Culture and the introduction of an appointment by the Minister of Finance. In response to the proposed legislative changes currently under discussion in parliament, the board maintains that the project evaluation processes conducted by the fund are both objective and transparent. They have also expressed openness to discussions on enhancing the project evaluation rules, and have implemented control mechanisms to address any potential doubts or violations.