Zagreb - Opposition MPs on Wednesday discussed a list of 13 candidates for five seats on the Croatian Radio Television (HRT) Programming Council, arguing that the Council has been "marginalised and rendered powerless" and pointing to current problems at HRT.
"It has always been important who sits on the HRT Programming Council, but at this moment, it is crucial," said Urša Raukar Gamulin (We Can!), claiming that the public broadcaster "is currently on the brink of collapse".
She urged MPs, particularly those from the parliamentary majority, to select "the best candidates".
"Let's choose the best, those who will, in these dangerous and dire times for HRT, give their utmost in preserving public service broadcasting," Raukar Gamulin said during the discussion on the list of candidates for the HRT Programming Council.
The parliamentary Media Committee initiated the selection process for five new Council members as the terms of five expire in early March.
Opposition: Council is marginalised and powerless
SDP MP Mirela Ahmetović argued that the HRT Programming Council is "completely irrelevant and powerless", citing the fact that for three consecutive years, starting in 2019, it issued negative assessments of HRT's annual reports, yet nothing changed. The same happened when it did not approve HRT's 2023 Work Program, she said.
"As long as it remains insignificant and marginalised, it does not matter who sits on it," she said. She added that the Council's tasks will include overseeing the implementation of the "strategic, visionary project New Direction", which, she said, HRT Director Robert Šveb copied from a similar Irish document and which plans for "20% of employees to be laid off".
Raukar Gamulin: So far, 250 employees have left HRT with severance packages
MP Raukar Gamulin also highlighted this document, saying that "for the past two months, Šveb and his management have been running around HRT, persuading people to retire or simply leave with severance pay."
"So far, 250 employees have done so," she said, asserting that Šveb is acting "without a plan or program", aiming only to "reach the target of 800" departures.
"What is the dismissal of 800 employees if not a cruel and shameless ultimatum to people who have dedicated their careers to this institution?" asked Dalija Orešković (DOSIP). She recalled that the first public call for five new Council members was annulled because only four candidates applied, instead of the required five.
Marijana Puljak (Centre) also stated that the Programming Council has no real power in practice and that HRT has long functioned as a government-controlled broadcaster. She argued that the selection of Council members should be depoliticised.
Ivanović: HRT is not laying off employees, only offering voluntary departure
Goran Ivanović (HDZ) noted that he would personally prefer if Parliament did not appoint Programming Council members and that "the institution itself should do so." He emphasised that candidates must receive 76 votes from MPs to be elected.
Responding to opposition claims about layoffs, he countered that "HRT is not dismissing employees but, in cooperation with the government, has offered certain conditions to those who wish to leave voluntarily."
The chairman of the Committee on Media, Josip Borić, reminded MPs that the Programming Council consists of 11 members, nine of whom are appointed and dismissed by Parliament. Their term lasts four years, with half of the members being elected every two years.