---
title: "Moldova adopts new media law amid political row over state subsidies"
url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/83740/moldova-adopts-new-media-law-amid-political-row-over-state-subsidies
published: 2026-08-24T17:20:00Z
language: en
author: "Dumitru Petruleac"
section: "Political"
source: radiomoldova.md
---

# Moldova adopts new media law amid political row over state subsidies

> Moldova’s Parliament has passed a new media law in its final reading, introducing an ownership and funding transparency register. The legislation partially aligns national frameworks with the European Media Freedom Act and repeals the country's outdated 1994 press law.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/1215dac8-3a59-48c9-874d-dd5478e7b54e.jpg)

Moldova’s Parliament has passed a new media law in its final reading, introducing an ownership and funding transparency register. The legislation partially aligns national frameworks with the European Media Freedom Act and repeals the country's outdated 1994 press law.

Under the new statute, the Ministry of Culture will manage the media register and lead public media policy. While registration remains voluntary for general operations, newsrooms must enroll to access state support through the national media subsidy fund.

**Subsidies and regulatory oversight**

The law sets clear rules to assess media market concentration, aiming to protect editorial independence and prevent external interference. It formally defines core concepts such as media pluralism, editorial responsibility, and media service providers.

Supporters argue the framework strengthens public resilience against disinformation and ensures a fair, transparent media ecosystem. The provisions take effect six months after official publication.

**Political debate over state control**

Opposition lawmakers strongly criticized the measure during debates, warning that ministerial oversight could invite political interference. Socialist lawmaker Adela Răileanu argued that dual supervision by the Audiovisual Council and the Ministry of Culture creates risks of administrative pressure.

Opposition figures also cautioned that conditioning subsidies on registry listing amounts to indirect licensing. The National Anticorruption Center echoed concerns regarding vague definitions and the risk of selective funding.

**Alignment with European benchmarks**

Parliamentary committee chair Liliana Nicolaescu-Onofrei rejected claims of censorship, noting the law creates no mechanisms to control editorial content. She emphasized that the draft incorporated recommendations from civil society, state bodies, and the Venice Commission.

Nicolaescu-Onofrei acknowledged that European practice often places such registries under independent regulators rather than ministries. She indicated that registry oversight could eventually transfer to a self-regulatory body as reforms advance.

Translation by **Iurie Tatarru**