STVR in Slovakia names Martina Flašíková as next director general

Slovak Television & Radio (STVR) has appointed its programming boss Martina Flašíková as its new director general, fuelling more concern for its political independence.

Martina Flašíková

Flašíková, who has overseen programming at Slovakia’s national broadcaster since April, will take over from Igor Slanina, who has been interim director general at STVR for almost a year.

Flašíková is the daughter of Fedor Flašík, the late Slovak political marketer and businessman, who oversaw political campaigns for politicians including Robert Fico, the current prime minister of Slovakia.

Slovakia’s former prime minister Igor Matovič said Flašíková’s appointment, which will see her in the post for up to six years, posed a “huge risk” that STVR could “soon be just another piece of government propaganda.”

Previously known as Radio & Television of Slovakia (RTVS), STVR was controversially set up by Fico’s pro-Russian Direction: Social Democracy party, in July following the dissolution of RTVS, a move that drew criticism from European media freedom groups.

Flašíková and Slanina were two of five candidates for the top job at STVR, alongside Martin Jakubec, Peter Janků and Norbert Majer, with the winner chosen by the STVR Council, which has close links to the Slovakian government. The selection process has been criticised by some groups for a perceived lack of transparency.

According to local reports, Flašíková plans to streamline decision-making procedures, increase the amount of children’s content and grow the organisation’s presence online.