Montenegrin TV in leadership scandal

Eyebrows have been raised in Montenegro after a leadership competition to find the new head of public TV was scrapped, giving rise to claims that the country’s ruling party is attempting to regain influence over the broadcaster.

Journalist Marko Milačić filed a complaint against the management of public broadcaster RTCG after the organisation called off the competition to find a new head, claiming that their action was not only illegal, but politically motivated – the decision has fuelled claims that the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro (DPS) is seeking to regain its former influence over RTCG, after six months of control by an interim administration brought in under the opposition.

According to Mr Milačić, who applied for the role, the sole reason for the decision was that the candidate favoured by the DPS was not adequately qualified for the job. He argues that Serbian journalist Sonja Drobac was the DPS’s top tip for the job and is close to the party, although Ms Drobac has denied this claim.

The appointment of the new head of the public broadcaster has been in contention since the Montenegrin parliamentary elections on 16 October, which followed six months of interim administration that was agreed as part of a deal brokered between Prime Minister Milo Đukanović and the opposition.

“This is a fight for TV, for all of us, and for professional, ethical and modern programme standards which will end the era of abuse and illegal business operations,” said Mr Milačić.

Source: Balkan Insight