Monaco Political Orientation
Government
Government Type: Constitutional Monarchy
Leader: Prince Albert II
Political Party: The Council of Government is under the prince’s authority. As of 2020, Pierre Dartout was appointed as Minister of State.
Political Position: Independent-Right Center
Press Freedom
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: 84.00 – Mostly Free
Monaco is one of 5 European micro-states, and it has close ties with France. Monaco is a tax haven due to a lack of income taxes and a magnet for money laundering by oligarchs and tycoons. For example, in 2019, a corruption scandal came out as Le Monde reported that the Minister of Justice of Monaco worked on behalf of Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev to influence a billion-dollar art fraud case. In 2022 Reuters reports, “Monaco clamps down on Russian assets after Ukraine invasion.”
The Monaco constitution guarantees freedom of expression; however, the penal code prohibits insulting the royal family, which is punishable by a jail sentence leading to self-censorship. For example, since it’s a crime to insult Prince Albert II of Monaco, a man was convicted with a three-month prison sentence for insulting the prince.
Media Ownership and Government Analysis
Due to its geographical proximity to France and Italy, French and Italian media outlets influence and shape Monaco’s media landscape. For example, French media holding company Groupe TF1 and the Government of Monaco (20%) own TMC (TV Télé Monte-Carlo), which broadcasts to France and Monaco. Monaco Media Diffusion (MMD) is the exclusive licensee for broadcast radio and TV in Monaco. MMD chairs the GRMC group, including TMC (Monte-Carlo Television) and RMC (Radio Monte-Carlo).
Monaco has no daily newspapers, but French dailies such as Monaco Matin are available. Radio Monte Carlo Network broadcasts from Monaco and Milan. Mediaset owns Radio Monte Carlo, which belongs to former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Journal de Monaco is the ffficial gazette of Monaco, which publishes laws and regulations every week.
In summary, Monaco has very little of its own media, with the ruling family having direct and indirect control over media outlets and the news. Therefore, information about the ruling family tends to praise their achievements with insults being punished, which leads to significant self-censorship. Finally, most media broadcasted in Monte Carlo comes from France and Italy which is not censored and is pluralistic.
Last Updated on May 13, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check
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