Portal: politically affiliated supervisors of the media are normal for Latvia

The media and their supervision is a sensitive topic in Latvia. One of the conditions is political neutrality, which is a criterion used in the ongoing process for the selection of new members for the National Electronic Mass Media Council, as reported by Latvijas Avīze (LA).
The news portal’s journalist Lelde Veinberga notes that among the ten candidates for three out of four places on the council include LLC NT Piedzīvojumi board member, former Latvijas Radio sound engineer Andis Plakans, who ran in last year’s municipal elections from the New Conservative Party’s list.
Should a person with political experience be allowed to work in a media supervisory council?
A.Plakans stresses he is neutral and does not represent any political party. NEPLP candidate believes municipal elections are not political, rather economic. He participated in them together with a group of associates to improve live in his municipality – Cesis – and there was no other way to accomplish it than running in elections. He said he picked the New Conservative Party because he considered it a progressive party. However, election results did not yield results in Smiltene, as reported by LA.
A.Plakans was picked as a candidate for the post in NEPLP representatives of technical staff. It is added that he left JKP after applying for the selection process. «I made no political declarations. When I joined the party I knew no one there,» A.Plakans told LA. A.Plakans says his goal in NEPLP is resolving technical problems not becoming engaged in medica content creation. «I support the freedom of speech, but my role is not that of a journalist.» If he becomes a member of NEPLP, he hopes to focus on technical affairs and promote media literacy.
Media expert and former NEPLP member Gunta Līdaka notes that although residents are invited to be politically active, this particular topic is especially sensitive in the media environment and it can cause suspicions, especially if candidates’ political affiliation is recent.