TUNISIA / Broadcasting watchdog rejects dismissal of Tunisian Television’s CEO

In a press release published on its web-site on June 21^st, the HAICA (Haute Autorité Indépendante de la Communication Audiovisuelle) rejected the government’s decision to fire Elyes Gharbi, CEO of Télévision Tunisienne.

Signed by Nouri Lajmi, the Tunisian broadcasting watchdog’s chairman, the announcement came after the HAICA Council meeting on June 17^th, the day after Elyes Gharbi was dismissed.

It confirms what M. Lajmi had suggested earlier: that the HAICA “rejects the Presidency of the Government’s decision to dismiss the chairman and managing director of Télévision Tunisienne”.

HAICA considers that Elyes Gharbi’s departure is “contrary to the provisions of the final paragraph of Article 19 of Legislative Decree No. 116 of 2011 concerning the assent of the HAICA”, and also the “sharing of forms and procedures used when appointing or dismissing the CEOs of public broadcasting establishments.”

The decree-law in question obliges the Tunisian government to obtain the broadcasting watchdog’s agreement before it can appoint or dismiss the CEO of a public broadcasting service.

Denouncing “the government’s persistence in making unilateral decisions about the public information sector”, the HAICA considers that the executive hampers “the public service’s independence and its reform” and that the current crisis in public broadcasting will not be solved by “simply replacing the CEO.”

It thus calls on the government “to reverse its illegal decision” and envisages “resorting to justice”.

As a reminder, Elyes Gharbi was fired as CEO of Télévision Tunisienne on June 16^th the day after an an unforeseen incident delayed the evening news on the main channel, Wataniya 1, for an hour and a half. Several institutions such as Reporters Sans Frontières, the National Union of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) and the International Federation of Journalists (FIJ) immediately showed their surprise and incomprehension at the government’s decision.

Source: HAICA, Kapitalis