More than 12 hours after the Council of State ruled that the Greek government has to restart the transmission of public broadcaster ERT, nothing has changed. Except that the black on second channel of ERT ‘NET’ was replaced with color bars.
ERT journalists continue to be on air with their pirate broadcast via the internet.
Court ruling
Countil of State ordered that all TV and radio frequencies of public broadcaster ERT must be restored. Also the internet (website) has to start operation again.
The court indirectly accepted the abolition of ERT as legal entity and the dismissals of the 2,656 employees over night as it did not ordered reversal of these decisions as well.
[I think the court was not in charge to rule also about these two issues. But not 100% sure]
The political parties, including Samaras’ coalition partners, loudly demand from Samaras to restart the broadcast of ERT immediately.
It looks as if nothing will change until the meeting of prime minister Samaras with Venizelos (PASOK) and Kouvelis (Democratic Left) scheduled for tomorrow evening, June 19th 2013.
PASOK and DemLeft issued statements describing as “illegal” the fact that ERT is not back on air yet.
PASOK and Democratic Left demand the immediate restoration of all ERT TV and radio frequencies and full program with all ERT personnel.
DemLeft threatens to refrain form joining the leaders’ meeting on Wednesday, should ERT not restart broadcasting.
Samaras’ coalition partners are said to support a bill that will be submitted to Parliament by Communist party KKE today. The bills will ask that lawmakers vote to annul the Legislation Act. This Act bearing the signatures of Samaras’ ministers only, orders the immediate shutdown of public institutions – among them ERT too.
Main opposition party SYRIZA demands also the immediate restore of ERT frequencies.
ERT reopening: Mission impossible?
After the first applauds, it turns out that the court decision caused a lot of confusion as it leaves spaces for several interpretations. Then the court order is temporary until judges will decide in ordinary ‘trial’ procedure in upcoming September.
How can ERT re-start broadcasting again, while its legal entity remains dissolved and the personnel is dismissed?
Greek media report of several proposals submitted to PM Samaras by his advisers:
- create a new temporary public broadcaster entity
- broadcast from other premises than the ERT headquarters with just 200 people staff [i.e. 1/10 of current staff]
- hire new personnel
- broadcast from the Greek Parliament channel [i.e. only one TV frequency will be restored. Parliament Channel has also one radio frequency]
The political crisis continues…
For more details, read our live-blogging from Monday, June 18/2013
For the moment it looks that in the context of ERT restructure, we will end up with establishing a new broadcaster every couple of months and we’ll have two media ministers, one exclusively for ERT or whatever the names of the new temporary and permanent public broadcaster.
For a better understanding of the Greek Theatre of the Absurd, below two Greek proverbs that may be well used as play titles:
“Drawn in a spoon full of water”
“Take an egg and shave it”
PS I think his coalition partners will topple Samaras from inside the Parliament…
Ha, stalling like always… But your idea is brilliant!
-2 media ministers
-Every couple of months a new ERT with new staff, depending on the need of the governing parties and their friends and family
-All the staff that will be shed after a couple of months will get a lifetime of salary or pension.
Seems Greece will end up with way more people it has to pay for broadcasting alone then the meager 2800 now. It’s the perfect job/money/vote-system! Who said these guys and girls were not fit to govern?…. Oh, that was me for one… 😳
last to go is mentality, habit (and hope)
Hope is still there, with me… somewhere…