On the occasion of the International Day for Universal Access to Information, the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) warned on Monday that freedom of the media was often threatened by interest groups and that access to public information was difficult.

Darko Klasic, head of the party’s Zagreb branch and member of parliament and city councillor, said that that was why the party today launched a campaign to raise public awareness, encourage citizens to exercise their legal right to access information and help raise awareness that power was not an end in itself.

“Both freedom of the media and the right to access information empower civil society and private organisations, encouraging active citizenship to use their power to preserve their rights and freedoms,” he said.

Citing Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic insulting female reporters, Klasic warned that Croatian journalists were often faced with a problem when politicians refused to respond to their meaningful questions and justified curiosity.