Editor-in-chief at the Croatian national broadcasting company (HRT) for the television news programme, Hloverka Novak Srzic, was relieved of duty on Tuesday after submitting her resignation. Renato Kunic was appointed as acting editor-in-chief, after the HRT Program Council accepted Novak-Srzić's resignation
All but one council member, actress Anja Sovagovic, voted in favour of Novak Srzic dismissal.
Earlier on in the day, Novak Srzic offered her resignation in order to facilitate the work of the council which was to decide on this matter after former HTV (Croatian Television) head Blago Markota called for her replacement in early December 2009.
During a break of the HRT Programmes Council's session on Tuesday, the HRT acting management held an urgent session to consider the developments.
HRT acting director Josip Popovac welcomed Novak Srzic's decision to tender her resignation in light of "evident subjective and objective problems in the work of the HTV news programme". Therefore the management also proposed to the council to opt for firing her.
The decision that Kunic, an HTV national desk editor, should replace her was supported by seven members of the council. Three ballots were invalid.
During the vote, a car with slogans "The last goodbye to Queen Hlo (Hloverka)", "Free us from Hloverka's censorship and lies" and "Hloverka Go Home" was parked outside the HRT building.
