The Minister of Education, Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdóttir of the Independence Party, has presented a bill to parliament concerning the media sector. The bill concerns many aspects of media companies. Among other things, it places restrictions on ownership.
Fréttabladid today reports on its front page that several leaders of the Progressive Party, which forms the national government in coalition with the Independents, are pessimistic that the bill will be passed during the spring session of parliament.
The acting leader of the Progressive Party’s parliamentary delegation, Magnús Stefánsson, said to Fréttabladid, “This bill will not be passed into law unless there is political consensus concerning the issue. Across the board consensus must be complete. Otherwise the the bill will not pass this spring.”
The Minister of Education has also presented a bill concerning the state-owned Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, RÚV. Among other things, it would change the form of ownership of RÚV from a government institution to a limited company.
