RTSH exposes the financial crisis in Parliament

In the report submitted to the Assembly for 2024, Albanian Radio Television, RTSH presents a grim financial and programming situation, caused by court decisions for unfair dismissals and the failure to realize the fund for independent productions.

The report emphasizes that the public television is facing a heavy financial burden as a result of the dismissals carried out by the previous director, Alfred Peza, and is exposed to expected court decisions.

During the leadership of Peza, a former deputy and official of the Socialist Party, over 150 employees were fired, who sued RTSH and some won the lawsuits.

"The institution had to bear a heavy financial burden due to liabilities from court decisions: over 63 million lek were liquidated for lost processes, while over 95 million lek remained exposed to financial risk from still open cases," the report states.

In the report submitted to the Assembly, RTSH emphasizes that most of Peza's decisions to terminate employment with employees have been overturned by the courts due to the lack of clear, documented and lawful reasons. This, according to the administration, will significantly hinder the reform of this institution in the near future.

RTSH also emphasizes that the financial structure remains burdened with over 52 percent of the budget dedicated to salaries and social security and “significantly limiting investments in content and technology.” Another worrying indicator, according to the report, “was the non-realization of the 12 million lek fund planned to support independent productions, which remained unused throughout the year.”

In a detailed overview of revenues and expenditures, the report also notes that during 2024 the public operator did not implement most of the recommendations that the Assembly had assigned to it and that are related to the expansion of educational content for young people and the transparency of expenditures.

 

According to RTSH, content dedicated to children and young people makes up only 3 percent of total programming. “A figure incompatible with European practices and standards,” the report admits.

It is further acknowledged that "the lack of transparency in the publication of expenditures, organizational structures, hiring, and board decision-making undermined public credibility and accountability."

From a content perspective, the report highlights that some channels operated mainly through retransmissions and without a clear editorial line, undermining the diversity offered on paper, and the full digitalization of the archive was not achieved.

Alfred Peza was elected Director General of RTSH in June 2023 and resigned in September 2024. A year ago, Peza faced strong criticism in the Assembly for the way he ran the public television, mass dismissals, and failure to implement any recommendations made by the Assembly.

Since April 2025, RTSH has been directed by journalist Eni Vasili.

In theory, the broadcaster is politically independent, but the Governing Council is elected by parliament, which is dominated by the ruling Socialist Party. Earlier this year, parliament dismissed and then elected by political consensus a new board, made up of political advisors or politically engaged individuals, raising concerns even from the European Union delegation as an act that contradicts commitments made on the path to membership./ BIRN