Albanian Parliament Dissolves RTSH Steering Council Amid Controversy

Tirana •︎ 17/02/2025

Source: SJ
Albanian Parliament Dissolves RTSH Steering Council Amid Controversy

On February 17, 2025, the Albanian Parliament voted to dismiss all members of the Steering Council of Radio Television of Albania (RTSH), including its chairman, Leka Bungo. The decision, supported by both the Socialist Party (PS) and the Democratic Party (PD), followed allegations of irregularities and legal violations during the selection process for RTSH’s General Director.

The decision to dismiss members of the Steering Council of Radio Television of Albania (RTSH) was approved with the following votes:

  • The dismissal of Gëzim Podgorica as a member of the Steering Council was approved with 89 votes in favor.
  • The dismissal of Genc Përmeti as a member of the Steering Council was approved with 91 votes in favor.
  • The dismissal of Leka Bungo as Chairman of the Steering Council was approved with 95 votes in favor.
  • The dismissal of Albert Minga as a member of the Steering Council was approved with 88 votes in favor.
  • The dismissal of Ardita Reçi as a member of the Steering Council was approved with 92 votes in favor.
  • The dismissal of Dionis Papadhimitri as a member of the Steering Council was approved with 92 votes in favor.
  • The dismissal of Edmond Tullumani as a member of the Steering Council was approved with 96 votes in favor.
  • The dismissal of Engjëll Ndocaj as a member of the Steering Council was approved with 94 votes in favor.
  • The dismissal of Ilir Keko as a member of the Steering Council was approved with 89 votes in favor.
  • The dismissal of Mevlan Shanaj as a member of the Steering Council was approved with 64 votes in favor.
  • The dismissal of Milena Selimi as a member of the Steering Council was approved with 93 votes in favor.

 

On February 18, 2025, the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Means of Public Information is expected to begin electing a new Steering Council for Radio Television of Albania (RTSH). It is crucial for forming a new council to be a meaningful and transparent process of restoring governance and transparency within Albania’s public broadcaster.  Potential political influence in the selection process must be avoided. 

Learn more here. 

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After the dismissal, on February 18, 2025, the Committee for Education and Means of Public Information decided to begin selecting a new Steering Council for RTSH. The vacancies for members and Chairman of the RTSH Steering Council were announced on the Assembly`s website, and relevant entities were invited to submit their candidacies within 10 days, until February 28, 2025. The necessary criteria and documents for submitting candidacies were also specified, such as CVs, professional experience, and self-declaration forms. Unlike the usual 30-day application period, the Committee shortened this to 10 days—with a possible 10-day extension—to prevent RTSH from operating without a Steering Council for too long. Following the appointment of new Council members, a separate procedure defined in Article 95 of Law No. 97/2013 “On Audiovisual Media in the Republic of Albania” will guide the selection of the Chairman. The new mandate will be full and not supplementary, meaning both the members and the chairman will have a full 5-year mandate.
Read more here.