ND recommends former Supreme Court chief to head TV watchdog
New Democracy on Tuesday recommended a former Supreme Court president to head the National Broadcasting Council (ESR) in an apparent bid to break a deadlock with the government after House and deputy speakers failed in a fifth round to talks to reach an agreement in the wake of a decision by the country’s highest administrative court deeming the government’s law for TV licenses unconstitutional.
Athanasios Koutromanos “enjoys a completely transparent public career, is of good standing and broadly accepted,” conservative party spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos said, announcing the recommendation.
The leftist-led coalition had proposed right-wing veteran politician Vyronas Polydoras to head the ESR, before eventually backing down on Monday to put forward another candidate, ESR veteran Rodolfos Moronis.
The government on Monday submitted an amendment to Parliament that essentially suspends the right of Minister of State Nikos Pappas to grant nationwide broadcasting rights, rather than meeting the demand of opposition parties to abolish it altogether and place licensing directly under the purview of the ESR – which is currently disbanded – as per the Council of State’s verdict.
