This is not the first tune that a government is trying to evade the social reactions and problems it faces by targeting the usual suspect: the media. There has not been a Prime Minister in recent years that has not refereed to vested interests and corruption as being responsible for all the country’s problems. Mr. Tsipras is doing the same, in an even worse way.

With an amendment and in violation of the Constitution, he summarily passed on the powers and responsibilities regarding television licenses, from the ESR to the parliamentary majority. The obvious goal is to fully control the licensing procedure.

Although technology has developed, the government decide to grant only 4 licenses for nationwide broadcasting, which will result in some stations shutting down, because the government claims the market cannot support that many. Of course, they forget that the current financial state of the media has been deeply affected by the ongoing crisis, for which the political leaders are responsible, especially the present government for its constant delays.

The same people who rage on about the closure of ERT have no problem to shut down some channels. They decided that 4 private channels can survive, but they see no sustainability issues for the state media, which also happen to be four. Obviously because they directly funded by the taxpayer and constantly propagandize government orders.

The government is clearly not concerned about the sustainability of the stations, but wants to impose its control, with its own businessmen in the media. Based on their inspections, they are well aware who is paying off their loans and guarantees.

Their problem is not quality and media sustainability, it is their ideological and political belief towards the freedom of information. It is their allergy to criticism. They cannot stand debate so that is why they are trying to subjugate information by all means. But just like everyone else who has tried to impose their control with similar methods, they too will find out that they cannot succeed.

TO VIMA