SUSPENSION OF GREEK STATE BROADCASTER

That this House regrets the Greek government’s decision to suspend the Greek state broadcaster, ERT; notes that the broadcaster is funded through a €5 monthly contribution by the average citizen through their electricity bill; further notes that the last time the broadcaster was suspended was when the Colonels took power in the late 1960s; further notes that ERT is protected by the Greek constitution under the freedom of speech and freedom of press provisions; further notes the Greek parliament did not have a say in the matter; believes that it would be wrong for the prime minister to close ERT down without changing the constitution or consulting parliament and his coalition partners; and expresses its concern that Greece now only has private broadcasters.