The Slovenian referendum supported the reform of RTV SLO
The outcome of the recent referendum in Slovenia on the law on the management of RTVSLO was recognized by the President of the National Assembly and international media associations as a positive step towards protecting the independence of public radio and television.
At the referendum, 62.8% of voters supported the changes to the new law on RTVSLO, which are supposed to eliminate the direct influence of politics on the management of public RTV. The law proposes the transformation of the two current management councils into a single supervisory body, whose 17 members will be appointed from representatives of civil society and employees of RTV SLO. The National Assembly, which currently appoints the majority of members, will have no role in appointing members to the supervisory body in the future.
The changes to the law were initiated by the new Slovenian coalition government after more than 100 days of unrest at RTVSLO.
The EBU assesses that the proposed RTVSLO management reform is in line with the best international practice, and believes that public voting will provide better safeguards for the institutional autonomy and editorial independence of public media in Slovenia.
The EBU also hopes that the constructive debate on public broadcasting in Slovenia will continue and expand to ensure stable, adequate and independent financing of this important democratic institution.