Czech Television Suspends Key Dramaturg Amid Dispute Over Political Guest Invitations
A long-running debate over media access and journalistic impartiality has led to the suspension of Hana Andělová, a veteran dramaturg for the influential Czech Television program Otázky Václav Moravec (Questions with Václav Moravec). The move, announced this week, underscores growing tensions within the public broadcaster regarding the inclusion of controversial political figures.
Andělová, who has shaped the program’s content for approximately fifteen years, will be reassigned to a different role within Czech Television’s news and journalism division. The decision was communicated to her by Petr Mrzena, the director of the division, according to Andělová’s statement to the news server Currently.cz. “The reasons are obvious,” she reportedly said, while confirming she will continue her work with the Fokus program.
A Czech Television spokesperson, Michal Pleskot, explained the reassignment stemmed from Andělová’s alleged violation of the “principle of equal access” during internal meetings. Pleskot asserted that her approach was “contrary to the ČT Codex,” the broadcaster’s ethical guidelines, and could negatively impact programming. “The management of the newsroom perceives it as their duty to prevent such behavior,” he stated.
Martina Riebauerová, currently a deputy editor-in-chief, will assume the role of dramaturg for Otázky Václav Moravec. According to Pleskot, the program’s format and the questions posed by host Václav Moravec will remain unchanged. Czech Television is currently seeking a statement from Moravec himself.
The Okamura Controversy
While the spokesperson did not detail the specific actions prompting the suspension, the dispute centers on the repeated exclusion of Tomio Okamura, the current speaker of the House of Representatives and leader of the SPD party, from Otázky Václav Moravec. Okamura has publicly complained about not being invited to the program for several years, a grievance echoed by some members of the Czech Television Council, the body responsible for overseeing the public broadcaster.
The issue recently came to a head following comments made by Michal Kubal, Chief News Editor of Czech Television, during an appearance on the Seznam Zpráv Media circus program. Kubal admitted that not inviting Okamura was a “mistake,” stating that the editorial board had unanimously agreed he should be included. He further revealed his active participation in meetings with the Otázky Václav Moravec team, where Andělová’s position on the matter became clear.
“At the meetings, there was a situation when Martin Řezníček asked Hana Andělova: ‘Can you imagine a situation in which you would invite Tomio Okamura to Otázek Václav Moravec?’ The answer was no,” Kubal recounted. He described his response as a metaphor for the impasse: “Hank, I have a feeling that our rails are going to run side by side and never get an inch closer until we hit a wall.”
Kubal emphasized that he has no intention of firing Moravec or removing him as host, but did not rule out the possibility of rotating moderators on the Sunday discussion show should Moravec request it.
Deadline for Resolution
The General Director of Czech Television has committed to addressing the Okamura invitation issue, setting a deadline of the end of February for a resolution. However, the specific steps to be taken remain unspecified. This situation highlights the delicate balance between journalistic independence and the obligation to provide a platform for diverse political voices, a challenge facing public broadcasters globally.
