Seeder: Political appointees, not independent experts, being selected for ERR board

Parliament debated amendments to public broadcasting legislation that would add three new experts to the ERR board. Isamaa MP Helir-Valdor Seeder criticized the plan, claiming that the Reform Party and Estonia 200 aim to secure their political influence through this move.

The Riigikogu held a night session where a bill amending public broadcasting legislation was taken up for second reading. The plan calls for adding three new experts to the ERR board, but the opposition questions the measure's genuine intent.

Helir-Valdor Seeder from Isamaa said that these are not truly independent experts, but politically selected individuals. He argued that the Reform Party and Estonia 200 are using this step to consolidate their control over ERR rather than ensure genuine board independence.

In Seeder's assessment, the amendment is a disguised political decision masquerading as a strengthening of expertise. According to the criticism, adding three new board positions provides no genuine independence if the selection of these individuals occurs in a manner convenient for the coalition.

ERR is Estonia's public broadcasting organization, and the independence of its board oversight has been under constant scrutiny. The legislative debate will continue in the Riigikogu, where the coalition and opposition positions are clearly at odds.