“Our time has come to an end, just as my time at Czech Television has come to an end after more than twenty-one years. Recent events have confirmed to me that under the current conditions, I can no longer guarantee the independence of editorial work and critical reflection of events, as mentioned in the preamble of the Codex of Czech Television,” said Moravec at the end of his engagement.
“I don’t want to disappoint the trust of hundreds of thousands of you, the viewers, who for twenty-one years made Otázek the most watched TV debate in the country, by moving towards pseudo-balance, if you will, to blind balance, which in my opinion destroys public service,” he said.
At the end, Moravec thanked both the audience and the team that participated in his discussion program.
ČT spokesman Michal Pleskot told Fairpress that the television management and the news management respect Moravac’s decision, but did not know about it in advance.
“However, we fundamentally reject Václav Moravec’s claim that the independence of editorial work is not guaranteed at CT. A completely standard editorial approach applies to Václav Moravec, in the position of moderator of CT’s main political discussion, as well as to all other presenters of other CT programs,” said Pleskot.
According to him, CT is going to decide the future of the Sunday discussion program in the following days.
Last time with Okamura
Moravec announced his decision to end his years-long engagement at CT at the end of his regular Sunday program Otázky Václav Moravec. After eight years, he welcomed in the debate the head of the SPD and the House of Representatives, Tomi Okamura, whose invitation to the program he had refused for years. For Okamura’s refusal, he faced criticism from the management of CT.
After Václav Moravec’s announcement, Okamura said that there are many other presenters in the Czech Republic who will also be able to host quality political programs.
Moravc’s departure from Czech Television comes in a situation where public media is facing strong pressure, which some employees perceive as a threat to independence. The government confirmed in January that it wants to cancel funding through fees paid directly by people and instead send money to CT and CRo directly from the budget.
“We want to continue to be accountable to the public, not to politicians, whether government or opposition. The current funding model guarantees the independence and stability of CT and CRo,” the employees responded in an open letter.
Photo: Michal Krumphanzl, ČTK
Speaker of the House of Representatives and SPD movement Tomio Okamura shook hands with moderator Václav Moravec before the start of the discussion program.
Photo: Profimedia.cz
The last broadcast of the program Otázky Václav Moravec
