Slovakia's Public Broadcaster Under Fire for Pro-Government Bias in Discussion Programs

Slovakia's Media Services Council has warned the public broadcaster STVR about political bias in its discussion programs, which have become dominated by representatives from the ruling Smer-SD party. The regulatory body raised concerns that the state-funded television network is being used for public relations purposes rather than providing balanced coverage. STVR is Slovakia's public service broadcaster, funded by taxpayers and required by law to maintain editorial independence and provide impartial coverage of political affairs. The Media Services Council serves as the country's broadcasting regulator, monitoring compliance with media laws and standards. The warning highlights ongoing tensions over media independence in Slovakia, where critics have raised concerns about political influence over public broadcasting since the current government took office.