The Steering Council of the Albanian Public Radio and Television (RTSH) suspended the selection process for a new director on Thursday. The decision followed a request from the Parliamentary Committee for Education and Media, which called for the suspension after the Council agreed to invite only two out of ten candidates to a hearing to present their management platforms.
According to the Council’s decision, the suspension will remain in effect until after a hearing with the Steering Council before the Education and Media Committee.
The selection process for the head of RTSH has faced significant criticism from the Education and Media Committee and media organizations in the country.
According to them, several issues have arisen, starting with the disqualification of eight candidates despite meeting the necessary criteria. Both the ruling majority and the opposition agreed on the need for an open, transparent, and meritocratic process.
Media organizations stated that the RTSH Statute was violated and demanded adherence to legal and statutory provisions.
The competition for the RTSH leadership opened following the resignation of the former director, Alfred Peza. His appointment and tenure were also controversial due to his political affiliations and subsequent mass dismissals of RTSH journalists.
Source: Citizens Channel