Slovakia officially disbanded the public broadcaster RTVS on Monday, July 1, and created a new state media outlet in its place, Deutsche Welle reported.

Slovak President Peter Pellegrini signed the law on the transformation of RTVS into STVR only on June 30, which was adopted by the votes of members of parliament from the Social Democratic Party and one of the nationalist parties. Shortly before midnight, the law was hastily officially published. This fulfilled the requirement for the law to enter into force as early as July 1.

As a result, the previously operating television and radio company RTVS formally ceased to exist and a new company STVR began operating in its place. For users, nothing has changed outwardly. All news continues to be published with the RTVS logo, and the web address of the previously existing public television and radio company has also been preserved.

It was only on the evening of July 1 that the parliament announced the appointment of an interim head of the new state media outlet. Marketing expert Igor Slanina will run STVR with limited powers until the end of September, when a new director will be elected by a board appointed by the government and parliament.

Opposition parties have announced their intention to file a complaint with the Constitutional Court. They accuse the government of wanting to create a propaganda outlet.