On Sunday, November 27, more than 62% of Slovenians voted in a referendum to approve a law aimed at preventing political appointments within the public television, RTV Slovenija, according to results published in the evening by the electoral commission, paving the way for its entry in force "probably at the beginning of 2023." Conservative leader Janez Janša, in power from 2020 to 2022, had stepped up attacks on the media, accusing them of bias, and replacing most RTV officials with relatives.
Under the new law, the government and the Parliament will no longer have the right to make appointments. RTV Slovenija will be placed under the supervision of civil society groups (employees, defender of rights, Academy of Sciences, etc.).
The channel has since been rocked by a series of strikes and demonstrations against the redirection of programs and pressures on journalists. More than 40 employees have left the editorial staff, which has a total of 2,100 members, they said. A dozen journalists, who previously worked for pro-Jansa media, have arrived in the meantime.