„There is not a better proof of how important quality journalism and trustworthy information are, than the current coronavirus crisis. We can see much disinformation about the virus or about the vaccines. In this situation we really need quality information which cannot exist without press freedom”, says Pavol Szalai from Reporters Without Borders.
The interview with Pavol Szalai
Aleksandra Kuśnierkiewicz, EURACTIV.pl:
According to the Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières; RSF) report, press freedom is deteriorating across the globe. Worsening for some not free states combines with a negative trend among free states, including across Europe. Can you expand on these overall findings and tell us more about how it connects with the state of democracy in those countries?
„The COVID crisis is a new excuse to reduce rule of law, democracy, and press freedom. In Europe unfortunately there are states which restricted press freedoms because of the pandemic, they are especially: Poland, Hungary, and Bulgaria” – says Pavol Szalai from the Reporters Without Borders.
A free press is a core element of any functioning democracy. Yet the situation has worsened on all continents, as can be seen in the 2021 Reporters Without Borders ranking of press freedom. The COVID-19 pandemic has served as a justification to further crackdown on journalistic independence.
We invited
Pavol Szalai, Head of EU/Balkans Desk at Reporters Without Borders, to discuss the press freedom situation in Europe with a special focus on the Eastern European region.
Is Vladimir Putin a ‘president for life’? Al Jazeera English UP NEXT
For more than 20 years, President Vladimir Putin has been the most powerful man in Russia – and this week, he made sure he could retain that position for another 15 years.
With the signing of a new law, Putin can now run for another two six-year terms once his current stint ends in 2024.
It would make him Russia’s longest-ruling leader, surpassing Joseph Stalin.
His critics call it a constitutional coup, designed to make Putin “president for life”. His supporters say it means stability for the government.
But what is behind Putin’s hunger for control?