Media Minister Ronald Plasterk [of the Netherlands] sees no possibilities nor desire for banning public broadcasters BNN and VPRO from showing the explicit porn film Deep Throat. Christian government party ChristenUnie appears to be accepting this decision.
On 23 February, shortly after midnight, BNN and VPRO plan to show the explicit film. ChristenUnie considers this disgusting. Opposition party SGP, a more conservative Christian party than ChristenUnie, asked Plasterk to prohibit the broadcast - it has been the only Lower House party to ask for a ban.
According to Plasterk the public broadcasters have 100 percent editorial freedom. "There can be no question of a ban, and no investigation of this will be mounted either. The government also has no views on any programme, moral or otherwise," said the Labour (PvdA) minister via his spokesman.
ChristenUnie is not demanding a ban, perhaps in order not to destabilise the coalition. Party leader Andre Rouvoet, also Vice-Premier, confined himself to a "moral appeal" to BNN and VPRO to drop the broadcast. This call was immediately rejected by the broadcasters as "patronising."
The Christian democrats (CDA), PvdA and ChristenUnie's partners in the CDA-led coalition, are avoiding the discussion. In the Netherlands, there is more or less a taboo on even speculating on banning any media expression whatever.
The conservatives (VVD) want an explanation from Premier Jan Peter Balkenende (CDA) on Rouvoet's moral appeal. VVD MP Johan Remkes intends to learn whether Rouvoet spoke on behalf of the cabinet. VVD declined to say whether it supported the broadcast of the film.
Radio programme Standpunt.nl yesterday presented the statement: 'The public broadcasters must drop the showing of Deep Throat.' A minority of 42 percent agreed.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment