The Slovenian people, on 25 September, voted in a referendum to pass a new law regulating the Slovenian public broadcaster, RTV Slovenija.

According to the Electoral Commission that presided over the referendum, the government’s victory was extremely narrow with 50.2 percent voting to pass the law and 49.01 percent voting against.

The broadcasting law has been criticised by political, media and civil society groups within Slovenia, as well as international organisations. One particular concern regards the composition of the national television and radio Programming Board that regulates finances and programming and chooses key personnel, including the station’s director and editors.

Under the broadcasting law, parliament, voting on a simple majority, is responsible for choosing the members of the Programming Board and there are fears that the process will become extremely politicised with the majority party in parliament having the greatest influence.

In a 12 May 2005 letter of concern to the Slovenian government, the International Press Institute said that the broadcasting law “leaves the organisation [RTV Slovenija] vulnerable to political influence and pressure.”

Speaking about the referendum, IPI Director Johann P. Fritz said, “I think it is now important that the Slovenian government amend parts of the broadcasting law to ensure that there are effective firewalls between the political and media spheres.”

“I believe the credibility and reputation of those in power rests on their willingness to relinquish control of the media and to do what is best for independent journalism and the Slovenian people.”

“The broadcasting law gives parliament close political ties to the body that effectively governs the public broadcaster and these should be severed out of fear that the majority party in parliament will inevitably dominate the process.”

“To ignore these dangers is an exercise in short-term thinking. It should be remembered that members of governments often become members of opposition, leaving them at the whim of a broadcaster that may have become so heavily politicised it speaks only for those in power. This would be extremely damaging to the Slovenian political system,” said Fritz.

“In its present state, the broadcasting law will create a cycle of political control over RTV Slovenija with successive governments making excessive demands and unnecessary criticism of the station, placing journalists in an intolerable position.”

Fritz finished by commenting, “The government should show itself capable of long-term planning and set aside its desire for political control and create amendments to the broadcasting law that will benefit Slovenian society, perhaps for the next generation.”