Romania: senators approved law that may harm press freedom
Parliament could fire the chief of national news agency
31 October, 12:04The proposal still needs to be approved by the lower house.
The amendment was initiated by members of the ruling Social Democratic Party. Culture Minister Lucian Romascanu said the changes were necessary because Parliament currently lacked the authority to fire the agency's general manager. But press groups, including Reporters Without Borders, the European Center for Press and Media Freedom and the Romanian Center for Independent Journalism, published a letter earlier urging lawmakers not to change the law. The European Federation of Journalists has called the measure "an instrument to politicize the public service media." Agerpres general manager Alexandru Giboi criticized the vote, saying lawmakers wanted "merely to transform (the agency) into a button that any political party in power can press". Under existing legislation, Agerpres' general manager has a five-year mandate and the agency, under parliamentary control, is required to be politically impartial. (ANSA).