Leka Bungo towards "sinking"/ Council members: He has violated the law, in a pure conflict of interest

2025-02-11 16:06:00, Aktualitet CNA

Leka Bungo towards "sinking"/ Council members: He has violated the

Today, a hearing was held at the Media Commission with members of the RTSH Steering Council and Chairman Leka Bungo.

The latter has launched an attack on the members of the Steering Council and CNA using unethical language.

"I don't call it media, it's slander, fabrications, garbage, and I haven't responded. They begged me to do it and I barely accepted," Bungo said.

After the hearing session where it was announced that the procedures for the dismissal of the members and the chairman of the RTSH Steering Council have been initiated, members of the RTSH Steering Council Milena Selimi, Edmond Tullumani, Albert Minga and Ilir Keko addressed the Media and Assembly Committee with a letter stating that the procedure for the dismissal of the members of the Steering Council was carried out under the influence of the illegal actions of Leka Bungo.

Leka Bungo, who throughout his four-year tenure has created numerous and serious problems in the smooth running of the RTSH institution, after encountering Bungo's arrogance, brutality and flagrant violation of ethical norms.

The members of the Steering Council conclude that Mr. Bungo is the one who has repeatedly violated the law and is in an open conflict of interest with the unfair benefits he has received, by signing black and white for projects at RTSH, which is strictly prohibited.

Full letter

Subject: Regarding the procedure for dismissing members of the RTSH Steering Council

ADDRESSED TO: The Committee on Education and Public Information Media

Parliament of Albania

Ms. Ina ZHUPA, Chair of the Commission

For information: Ms. Elisa SPIROPALI, Speaker of the Parliament of Albania

Tirana, on 11.02.2025

Dear Ms. Zhupa,

Conveying our feelings of high consideration, we, a group of members of the Board of Directors of Albanian Radio Television, notified of the initiation of the dismissal procedure by the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Public Information, present the following:

In our assessment, the procedure for dismissing the members of the Steering Council, collectively, hastily and in violation of legal procedures, was influenced by the illegal actions of the Chairman of the Steering Council, including the recent procedure for electing the Director General of RTSH.

This procedure was initiated by the Chairman of the Council, it was led by him in several meeting sessions, the decision was also read publicly by Mr. Bungo, but only after the failure of the Council Chairman's preferred candidate was ascertained, everything was anathema and called illegal.

We, the members of the Board of Directors, have followed and experienced with deep concern the attitude and behavior of President Leka Bungo, who throughout his four-year term of office has created numerous and serious problems in the smooth running of our institution. Although the efforts of the members of the Board of Directors, throughout the entire period, have been for patience and calm, conveying messages of cooperation and tolerance towards the President of the Board, they have encountered arrogance, brutality and flagrant violation of ethical norms by Mr. Bungo.

The Steering Council has been deliberately hindered in institutional communication with the Parliamentary Committee and the General Directorate, causing many important decisions and analyses that should have been made within the legal deadlines to be exceeded, which penalizes the entire normal process of RTSH's functioning.

In this context, we have found that numerous requests and letters addressed to the Steering Council from the Media Commission and the General Directorate have been deliberately kept hidden by Mr. Bungo, causing an impasse and consequences for the institution.

We, the members of the Steering Council, conclude that Mr. Bungo is the one who has repeatedly violated the law and is in open conflict of interest with the unfair benefits he has received, by signing black and white for projects at RTSH, which is strictly prohibited;

We, the members of the Steering Council, completely oppose the procedure for dismissing members, considering it a political decision and in clear violation of the law.

After last week's hearing, we showed our willingness and civic, professional and legal commitment, as per your suggestion, to continue communication with the Parliamentary Committee, in order to find the best solution for the situation created. This commitment of ours was not taken into account.

At the Commission hearing, we expressed and are ready for any clarification of the alleged incompatibilities, based on the legal framework in force,

Based on Law 97/2013 "On Audiovisual Media in the Republic of Albania" and the Statute of RTSH, we will follow all legal steps to challenge any unlawful decision.

We remain convinced that our request will be assessed and taken into consideration.

Thanking you,

Milena Selimi Albert Minga

Edmond Tullumani Ilir Keko/ CNA