By On January 6, 2025, the Steering Council of RTSH (Albanian Radio and Television – public broadcaster) announced the opening of the competition for the position of General Director of the Albanian Radio and Television (RTSH). The application deadline was set for January 20, 2025. On January 27, 2025, the Steering Council conducted the first phase of the selection process. According to Decision No. 5 of the Steering Council, dated 27.01.2025, the Council voted and selected only two candidates to proceed to the hearing process, while disqualifying three others by voting. Declarations by the Chairwoman of the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Means of Public Information and media organisation suggest that there were eight candidates that met the legal criteria, yet the Council voted for five and allowed only two to advance, raising concerns about transparency and fairness. Furthermore, the number of total applicants, and how many did not meet the legal criteria and the reasons for disqualification remain unclear, reflecting the Steering Council’s lack of transparency in this critical process.
The SafeJournalists Network is deeply concerned about the procedural irregularities that undermine the principles of merit-based selection and public accountability. According to Article 11 of the RTSH Statute, all candidates who meet the legal eligibility criteria must be given the opportunity to present their platforms, experience, and vision during a hearing session, ensuring a fair and thorough evaluation before any eliminations occur. However, the Steering Council’s decision to disqualify candidates before the hearing phase contradicts these legal provisions and violates the principles of transparency and fairness.
Additionally, Article 104 of the Law on Audiovisual Media (No. 97/2013, ad changed) states that a candidate can only be disqualified if they fail to meet specific legal criteria, such as experience, leadership qualifications, or conflict-of-interest concerns. Reports indicating that all eight candidates met these criteria make the Steering Council’s decision to limit participation highly questionable. Furthermore, the lack of a clear and public explanation for the disqualifications raises doubts about the integrity of the process.
Another critical issue is the violation of secret ballot procedures, which are required under Article 102 of the Law on Audiovisual Media. The Steering Council must conduct its votes through anonymous and in-person secret ballots to ensure fairness and independence. Any deviation from this process, including reports of remote voting, jeopardizes the legitimacy of the Council’s decisions and further erodes public trust in RTSH as an independent institution.
We call on the Albanian Parliament, in its oversight capacity, to request a full explanation from the Steering Council of RTSH regarding the procedural irregularities and the lack of transparency in the selection process. Parliament should ensure that the Steering Council complies with the legal framework, particularly with the principles of transparency, fairness, and adherence to democratic norms in public broadcasting governance.
The SafeJournalists Network urges the Steering Council to retract its decision and provide an opportunity for all candidates meeting the legal criteria to participate in the hearing process.
We stand in solidarity with stakeholders demanding a fair, transparent, and lawful process and will continue to monitor developments to ensure RTSH operates in accordance with the principles of accountability, fairness, and democratic integrity.
The SafeJournalists Network will inform relevant national and international stakeholders.
Pristina – Skopje – Sarajevo – Zagreb – Belgrade – Podgorica, 28.1.2025
Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Association of Journalists of Macedonia
Association BH Journalists
Croatian Journalists’ Association
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
Trade Union of Media of Montenegro
