The government is proceeding to dismiss the National Council for Radio and Television (ESR) as part of a drive to get rid of undesirable officials through legal interventions and amendment. 

Following the sacking of Katerina Savvaidou, chief of the General Secretariat of Public Revenue, the time has come to relieve Lena Alexiou, the mother of former Speaker of Greek Parliament Zoe Konstantopoulou. State Minister Nikos Pappas wants to give additional authority to the independent head for the restructuring of the radio and television landscape, hende he wants people that he trusts in the top positions.

According to changes announced on Saturday afternoon by the plenary of Greek Parliament, the law for the renewal of contracts for National Council for Radio and Television members has been rescinded. The current administration’s removal from its post is effective immediately.

Pappas approved the socialist PASOK party’s proposal, meaning that the national broadcast supervisor will no longer have choice of international inspection companies in its jurisdiction.

Municipal television stations are excluded from the rules, whereas the regional channel starting prices will be based on the size of the population, GDP, and geomorphology. The cancelation of the tender will be reviewed if there are not enough candidates.

“We can proceed with the necessary steps in the spirit of collaboration so as to offer a clear television landscape,” said the minister.