OSCE Media Freedom Representative calls for repeal of Slovak Press Act amendments on right of reply
VIENNA, 6 February – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today raised his concerns over the amendments to the Press Act establishing a right of reply for physical and legal persons, which passed the first reading in the parliament of Slovakia last week.
The amendments to paragraphs 8 and 10 of the Press Act would grant a right of reply which will particularly apply to political actors or public officials who claim that their honour or reputation has been damaged in media reports. The Representative underlined that the Press Act already permits a right of correction for all individuals, including politicians. With the proposed version of the right of reply, regardless of the veracity of the statements, editors would be compelled to publish a correction, under the threat of paying damages between 1,660 to 4,980 euros. This would signify a return to a similar legal provision introduced in 2008 and repealed in 2011 following strong domestic and international opposition.
“I am seriously concerned that this will represent a regression of the legal environment in Slovakia, which enables the media to report freely and without political pressure on matters of public interest,” said Désir. “I call upon the parliament of Slovakia to repeal these amendments, to protect media freedom and investigative journalism, and to take into account the objections raised by the media and civil society in the country.” The Representative expressed regret that the concerned amendments were not reviewed by the Culture Ministry’s working group responsible for reviewing media freedom legislation.
The right of reply as foreseen in these amendments goes far beyond the existing right to correction. “This represents a high risk of undue and disproportionate interference in the editorial independence of the media, and must not lead to permanent pressure or self-censorship of the media,” stated Désir. “Political actors must accept a high level of scrutiny and criticism, and the press must remain free to exercise its function without facing financial threats.”
The Representative concluded that the suggestion by the President of the CIS and the National Council to extend the right of reply to comments would exacerbate the situation further.
The RFOM previously issued a statement asking Slovakia to abandon the article in April 2008 (See: https://www.osce.org/fom/49620)