In December 2021, New Democracy party MEP and member of the European People’s Party, George Kyrtsos, made multiple complaints alleging that he had been excluded by ERT because he didn’t support government policy and had criticized the way they dealt with the consequences of the pandemic.
On December 11, Mr. Kyrtsos claimed in a Twitter post: “Ever since I disagreed on the subject of the pandemic, invitations from ERT have ceased, breaking decades of tradition through all governments…”
A day later, on December 12, the MEP tweeted: “On ERT: During PASOK I was on ERT. During Simitis’ government, I was on ERT, during G. Papandreou’s government I was on ERT. During Karamanlis, Roussopoulos’ governments, we disagreed, but I was on ERT. Now during Mitsotakis’ government they have cut my appearances! In September 2020 I requested an improvement in transport due to COVID-19. In April 2021 I warned of a tsunami of death. Unforgivable!”.
A few days later, on December 25, Mr. Kyrtsos returned to the subject, claiming that his exclusion from ERT continued despite his public protest and the letter he had sent to ERT President, Konstantinos Zoulas (who was also head of the New Democracy Press Office before taking over as head of ERT after the 2019 elections). Mr. Kyrtsos has also implied that as an MEP he will raise the issue at the EU level as well in an attempt to provoke a response (1, 2).
ERT has still not issued an official response to these accusations.
According to the demands of objectivity and pluralism, ERT, the public service broadcaster, must give television and radio time to politicians from across the political spectrum and especially those who have been elected or appointed to a public office, such as MPs, MEPs and members of the government.
However, in this case, MEP George Kyrtsos has repeatedly accused ERT of excluding him on the basis of his disagreement with government policy, with ERT thus far having failed to issue a response.
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