The Croatian Journalists' Association (HND) deemed the conduct of HDZ councillors in the Prološac Municipal Council unacceptable on Sunday, who on 9 July demanded a ban on filming and live broadcasting for a journalist from Imotski-based Radio NU, Index.hr reports.
Although Municipal Mayor Toni Garac (HSLS) invited the media to report from the meeting and gave consent for filming, HDZ councillors, who hold a majority in the Council and are led by its president, insisted that journalist Ante Dogan be banned from filming and broadcasting. As a reason, they cited the claim that the broadcast was exerting pressure on councillors, a view the HND considers unfounded.
The journalist was ultimately permitted to remain at the meeting, but without filming or broadcasting, after which he left the session and reported the incident to the HND.
The HND stressed that the meeting, at which the budget was discussed, was unequivocally an event of public interest, in a municipality where extraordinary elections were held at the end of April. According to the association, residents could find themselves at the ballot box for a third time in just over a year because the budget has not been adopted again due to HDZ opposition.
"Journalists have the right and duty to attend such meetings and report on them, which includes filming and live broadcasting," the HND stated, adding that politicians have no right to condition or restrict media reporting.
Radio NU announced that it had taken institutional steps to protect media freedom following the incident. Complaints were submitted to the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation and to the Ombudsperson, and the Prime Minister was informed of the case. The station promised to keep the public promptly updated on the actions of the relevant institutions.
