The Czech Republic is set to debate a proposal to tighten the ban on media ownership by top politicians. The proposed amendment to the existing law would specify that the law applies to the owner and beneficiary of the given media regardless of whether they have been placed in trust funds. This would ensure that politicians are not able to use their influence to control the media.
The debate on the government-proposed draft has been held up for months by the opposition ANO party. However, the lower house is now due to debate the proposal, which could have a significant impact on the media landscape in the Czech Republic.
The proposed amendment is part of a wider effort to ensure that the media is free from political interference. It is hoped that the amendment will help to ensure that the media is able to report on issues without fear of retribution from politicians.
The debate on the proposed amendment is expected to be heated, with both sides of the political spectrum likely to have strong opinions on the matter. It remains to be seen whether the amendment will be passed, but it is clear that the issue of media ownership by top politicians is an important one that needs to be addressed.