The Slovakian parliament has voted to approve a government plan to replace the country's public service. Critics say it will lead to the government taking full control over the channels.
Of the 150 seats in parliament, 78 people voted for the changes, while opposition parliamentarians boycotted the vote in protest.
The changes mean that the public service company RTVS will no longer exist and will be replaced by a new organisation.
Prime Minister Robert Fico, from the nationalist party Smer, has said that the changes are needed because the media are biased and "in conflict with the Slovakian government".
The plan has been criticised by, among others, the opposition, international media organisations and the EU. Thousands of people have repeatedly protested against it. On Thursday, employees at the public service TV and radio also protested.
The plan was drafted by Culture Minister Martina Simkovicová from the ultra-nationalist, far-right party SNS.
