Slovak Public Broadcaster Plans Mass Layoffs as Tensions Rise Among Staff

Sixty employees of Slovakia's public television and radio broadcaster (STVR) are awaiting official termination notices that management has announced but not yet delivered. The layoffs are expected to begin next Tuesday, according to sources, with management citing consolidation needs as justification. General Director Martina Flašíková previously stated the dismissals would primarily affect positions deemed "redundant," though the actual scope appears broader. The planned terminations have drawn criticism from journalists, historians, and former dissidents who support the affected staff members. Flašíková has attempted to calm employee concerns through internal emails as tensions mount within the organization. STVR serves as Slovakia's main public service broadcaster, providing television and radio programming across the country. The mass layoffs come amid broader debates over media independence and the role of public broadcasting in Slovakia.