Slovenia faces media turmoil as nationalist politics threatens public broadcaster independence and ownership shifts raise concerns about press freedom.
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The return of the nationalist Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) to power, coupled with changes in media ownership, has created significant turmoil in Slovenia’s media landscape, raising concerns about press freedom under the current government. The ruling coalition is pushing amendments that critics fear will grant the government excessive control over the public broadcaster, Radio Television Slovenia (RTVSlo), and limit its editorial independence. Furthermore, there are efforts to abolish the public broadcaster’s license fee, a move echoed by other countries like Hungary and the Czech Republic, which experts warn could lead to increased political influence.
Concerns are also mounting due to ownership changes in commercial outlets, such as N1 changing hands to a fund linked to interests associated with Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party. These developments suggest a broader effort to consolidate control over media content. Experts note that the government’s actions aim to gain influence over key media institutions like RTVSlo and POP TV. While some predict continued political maneuvering, there is also speculation about potential future acquisitions by various investment groups in the region.
