Czech Republic: clash between government and media?
The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs has barred a journalist from the daily newspaper Deník N from attending a press conference despite the fact that according to the newspaper she had applied for accreditation in good time and in accordance with the rules. The journalists' association is now considering boycotting press conferences in retaliation. Commentators discuss whether this marks the beginning of a repressive trend, as well as appropriate responses.
A warning signal
Hospodářské noviny takes a look at the big picture:
“The government's current attacks on the media are accompanied by attacks on other components of the democratic system designed to prevent its unchecked expansion of power: the courts, including the Constitutional Court, and civil society. ... In short: all those things that the populists cannot fully control. And if they cannot fully control something, they try to call it into question, delegitimise it and marginalise it. ... The government's selective and hostile attitude towards the media is by no means a trifling matter. It is a warning signal. At its core, it is an admission that our liberal system is being dismantled.”
Symbolic gestures only a last resort
A boycott would be an overreaction, Lidové noviny argues:
“Freedom of the press is such a precious asset that it deserves more than mere symbolic gestures. It requires level-headedness, objective arguments and respect for the rule of law. If anyone has breached these rules, this must be proven transparently and those responsible held to account. However, a blanket boycott should not be the first reaction but only a last resort. At a time when Czech society is divided on almost every public issue, we should take care not to widen the rifts unnecessarily. The rule of law is not based on symbolic gestures, but on institutions, rules and the ability to resolve disputes in a civilised manner.”