Opposition Complains Of Public TV Coverage

TIRANA, July 6 – The main opposition Socialist Party complained last week of the singular coverage by the public Albanian radio and television stations, claiming it was at the complete disposal of the governing Democratic Party and its leader, Prime Minister Sali Berisha. Valentina Leskaj, head of the Socialists parliamentary group, said the government and the premier had 2.5 times more coverage by the news media compared to the opposition and, together with their political party, which increased to four times higher.
“Following the RTSH, where Berisha dominates the news, one has the impression that Albania is a country like that of (Venezuelan President Hugo) Chavez, not a parliamentary republic,” she said, adding that the private media stations were more balanced.
The opposition said that this lopsided media coverage was caused by the pressures exerted on them by the ruling party.
She added that came as an effort by the governing coalition to cover up its failures and corruption at a time when general elections are approaching next year.
The opposition has asked the parliamentary committee to make an analysis of the RTSH situation before continuing on to other steps, unless they saw a response.