by Nina Žoher
At today’s plenary session in Brussels, MEPs discussed, among other things, an oral question to the Commission regarding Hungary’s interference in the media in Slovenia and Northern Macedonia. Romana Tomc, head of the Slovenian delegation to the largest political group, the European People’s Party, pointed out that this was a question posed solely for the purpose of interfering in the internal affairs and discrediting the Slovenian government.
»It is absurd that it is based on information from an obscure Slovenian web portal with suspicious and opaque ownership, known for attacks on the center-right government and for journalists who have already been indicted at the Journalists’ Court of Honor,« she was clear.
According to Romana Tomc, Slovenia has serious problems with the media space, which has been completely unbalanced for 30 years. »The monopolies that have formed in all areas, from the economy to the judiciary and the media during this time, are in the hands of the left. This prevents the implementation of democratic processes in the country. A particular problem is national RTV, which would be expected to be independent. Unfortunately, this is not the case.«
They don’t write about stories that don’t suit them
Dominant media in Slovenia represent 90 percent of the media space. »Those in Slovenian ownership are in the hands of the left-wing tycoon elite, which implements the political agenda through them, and their power is extraordinary. With a few clear exceptions, objective journalism in Slovenia is a myth. They don’t write about stories that don’t suit them, there’s a lot of cover-up and biased reporting. That is why those few non-left and independent media are extremely important for Slovenia. This great non-transparency in ownership is also noted by the European Commission in its report. Changes are needed. And these changes do not mean the destruction of independent media, quite the opposite. They are an attempt to make the media space better, more transparent and more balanced,« said Romana Tomc.
The MEP also regrets that the crisis, which the Union has not yet experienced, »is being used by the Socialists for internal political reckoning. Unfortunately, this very case is an obvious proof of how, even in the European Parliament, the Slovenian Socialists abuse the media as a means of political struggle.«