Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has stated that the country’s public broadcaster, RTSH, has failed, warning that all options are now on the table, including permanent closure, privatization, or a form of public-private partnership.
Speaking after a meeting of the Socialist Party parliamentary group, Rama described the current state of RTSH as a “successful failure”, citing chronic financial mismanagement.
“We tried to create the conditions for the public broadcaster to reform, and we failed—completely successfully. I don’t know what the new director will do, but so far the balance of the public television is a successful failure, meaning from debt to debt,” Rama said.
He stressed that no option should be excluded, except maintaining the status quo.
“I believe every option should be on the table: permanent closure, privatization, partnership—everything except what exists today. However, I will not be part of this process, just as I am not involved in attempts to regulate the media,” Rama stated.
Rama emphasized that his previous involvement in media reform was limited and that he no longer interferes in public or online media, despite frequent criticism directed at him.
According to the prime minister, RTSH itself must carry out deep reforms, adding that the government will not provide any public funds until the broadcaster proves it deserves them.
“How is it possible that other television stations with much smaller budgets achieve far greater success? Because their budgets are not guaranteed. The public broadcaster’s budget is guaranteed—and that is the problem,” Rama said.
He also criticized RTSH for failing to meet financial obligations, including payments for broadcasting rights of the national football team, while still seeking state funding.
“We will not give RTSH a single euro of Albanian taxpayers’ money until it earns the right to that money,” Rama concluded.
