Moldova media reform sparks central control clash with Gagauzia
The Moldovan Parliament has introduced a bill to change how the supervisory board of Gagauzia’s regional public broadcaster, GRT, is selected. Under the proposal, the national Audiovisual Council would organize the selection contest instead of the regional assembly.
The initiative has drawn sharp criticism from local authorities in Gagauzia, who accuse central leadership of trying to exert political control. Moldovan lawmakers and media regulators strongly deny the allegations, framing the shift as a necessary step to safeguard editorial independence.
Political debate over media governance
Co-author of the bill Liliana Nicolaescu-Onofrei explained that the amendments aim to align regional broadcasting governance with national standards. She stressed that transferring competition oversight to the independent Audiovisual Council protects journalists from political interference.
Conversely, Valentin Gaidarji, President of the People's Assembly of Gagauzia, warned that the move strips the regional legislature of its constitutional prerogatives. He claimed the reform poses a direct threat to GRT's survival as an independent regional voice.
Regulators dismiss shutdown claims
Sponsors of the legislation rejected claims that the measure could lead to the closure or political subjugation of the regional outlet. Lawmakers noted that public funding mechanisms and statutory press freedoms remain fully protected under the framework.
Aneta Gonta, head of the Audiovisual Council, also dismissed concerns of targeting GRT specifically. She affirmed that the regulatory body applies uniform legal criteria across all broadcasters to ensure compliance with national law.
The draft amendment to the Audiovisual Media Services Code has been submitted for public consultations before heading to Parliament for full debate.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
