BRUSSELS, Jan 11 (KUNA) — The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) accused Friday the Slovenian government of interfering in press freedom at home.
The EFJ in a statement said that political meddling with media in Slovenia casts a shadow over the countrys Presidency of the European Union.
Slovenia holds the current six-month rotating EU Presidency.
“The Government cannot spin its way out of the hard truth that government and politicians have been exercising undue influence on the way Slovenian media work,” said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary.
The EFJ is the regional group of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).
“Slovenia has failed the first test of leadership in Europe by failing to show that it is prepared to deal openly and honestly with serious questions over its own record on dealing with media and journalism,” said White.
The Slovenian media crisis developed with the launch of a petition against censorship and political pressures on journalism which was signed by 571 journalists. The protest follows government attempts to replace leading editors in order to stifle media criticism.
There is also widespread concern over legislative and management changes that have placed pro-government people in charge of the countrys public broadcasting system.
The EFJ said the governments response has been intemperate and unacceptable.