Barely a week of Tusk’s rule has passed and the new government no longer sees the need to pretend to be a democracy. However, he maintains the manipulation strategy that he put into practice during the campaign, because how else can we describe his alleged concern for media pluralism? Donald Tusk claims that the purpose of taking over the public media is to restore neutrality and order in the media. We know this media order well from the time of his previous government. The way he treats current TVP journalists proves that his desire to radically subordinate the media to the authorities has not only not diminished, but has certainly increased. No one has ever treated journalists like him.
Journalists in the public media are treated with the utmost contempt by Donald Tusk’s people. At press conferences they were insulted, criticized and ridiculed. Since December 13, i.e. from the moment the new government was sworn in, they have not been allowed to enter state institutions for events that the public media are obliged to report on. They were denied accreditation to travel to Brussels, where important issues for Poland were taking place. They were also not admitted to the Prime Minister’s Conference today, nor to the ceremony of presenting the Bethlehem Light of Peace. And all this… in the name of restoring law and order. It sounds paranoid, but it is played with the utmost seriousness.
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New media order?
Today the Sejm received a parliamentary draft resolution on the restoration of the rule of law and the impartiality and reliability of the public media and the Polish Press Agency. The project was submitted by a group of parliamentarians from KO, Polski 2050-TD, Left and PSL-TD. It was written that the Sejm calls on the Ministry of Finance, represented by the ownership body of the public radio and television companies and PAP, to take corrective measures. The Sejm also promised to immediately begin legislative work to ensure the permanent restoration of the state of affairs in accordance with the Constitution.
We will rectify the situation and, as a practical matter, its consequences, in connection with this resolution, will have immediate practical effect. But at the same time, it is our intention to prepare such rules and actions – and I count on everyone’s cooperation with everyone – that will restore the fundamental neutrality of the public media.
– Tusk said and emphasized that the changes must take place as soon as possible and there is no need to wait until Christmas.
Force variant?
There are numerous voices pointing to variants of forced access to public media. It is difficult not to take this into account when observing the decisions of the new Prime Minister. He chose Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz as Minister of Culture responsible for the media – a former Minister of the Interior, during whose rule many shocking events took place involving the services – it is enough to recall the provocations during the Independence Marches. Neither he nor Deputy Minister Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus have had much to do with culture so far. Although the left-wing activist has a few incidents to her name, such as breaking into a church with pro-abortion banners and disrupting Holy Mass, these are quite counter-cultural.
Task workers at ministries
Donald Tusk has placed task forces in key ministries that will effectively realize his expectations. He also deliberately placed socially important ministries in the hands of the left. They will absolutely adhere to Brussels’ ideological principles, and believe in the need to immediately reform social structures.
How many of Tusk’s cheerful stories about a ‘smiling Poland’ are left? Few. Just like with election promises. The most extensive fragment of the ‘100 specifics’ – revenge on the United Right – remains in force. Its essential element is the liquidation of the current structure of TVP and Polish Radio. And it’s not about any pluralism. The idea is to fill the structure with ‘their’ people, ready to build propaganda of the size of the new government. The good old order will return: multiple stations, one message. Tusk’s demeaning attitude towards TVP journalists proves otherwise: he will treat anyone who violates the imposed narrative in this way. The media must protect him and convey the expected message. Otherwise they will be treated as the current TVP Info setup.
Source: wPolityce