The Sejm’s resolution regarding the media is declarative and has no consequences – the head of the President’s Office, Marcin Mastalerek, said on Wednesday in the first program of Polish Radio. The claim that there were impartial, reliable media in the years 2007-2015 and that they no longer existed after that is a fairy tale, he noted.
On Tuesday evening, the Sejm adopted a resolution on the restoration of law and order and the impartiality and reliability of the public media and PAP. The draft resolution was tabled by a group of parliamentarians from KO, Polski 2050-TD, Lewica and PSL-TD. The resolution states, among other things, 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. More than 100 Law and Justice MPs did not participate in the vote and went to the TVP headquarters in Woronicza 17. PiS politicians, as announced by the formation’s leader Jarosław Kaczyński, will employ 10 people there.
READ ALSO: Attack on freedom of expression! The new majority of parliamentarians has adopted a scandalous and illegal resolution on public media
The president’s response
Mastalerek, who was asked on Radio 1 on Wednesday how President Andrzej Duda evaluates what is happening around the media, replied:
The president reacted immediately when this resolution appeared, because it has no legal consequences.
READ ALSO: Resolution regarding the media. President to Hołownia: Political goals cannot be an excuse for violating or circumventing regulations
He added that Andrzej Duda reminded in a letter to the chairman of the Sejm, Szymon Hołownia, that if the new parliamentary majority wants changes in the public media, it must do so in accordance with the law.
Without questioning the right of the parliamentary majority to implement changes, it must be emphasized that a political objective cannot be an excuse for violating or circumventing constitutional and legal requirements.
– the president wrote to the marshal.
Mastalerek pointed out that those in power can change the law or wait for the end of the National Media Council’s term.
When Prime Minister Donald Tusk was sworn in by President Duda at the presidential palace, he assured that the trademark of his government would be compliance with the constitution and laws. Unfortunately, the public media shows that the attempts are simply different
– he said.
When asked how the president would respond if the new government team were to appear in the public media, Mastalerek pointed out that “the president has no police or any other agency under him and cannot respond.”
The government could respond sooner, and probably in the other direction
– he pointed out.
We saw what it looked like in the years 2007-2015, we remember the editorial office of +Wprost+, where the services and the Internal Security Agency entered the editorial office and took laptops from journalists. So it is not a matter of imagination
– said Mastalerek.
The president will respond based on the constitution and law
– he pointed out.
As he added, the Sejm’s resolution is declarative and of no consequence.
I understand that it rather announces what might happen and what Prime Minister Tusk’s government might try to do
– said Mastalek. The question is whether the government already knows what it wants to do. Nervousness sets in. They thought they would take over television on the first day of the new government. They failed. And it is good for democracy that it has failed, because democracy is stronger when you look into the hands of the government,” the head of the President’s Office added.
The story that there were impartial, reliable media in the years 2007-2015, and that now they suddenly no longer exist, are simply fairy tales
– he emphasized.
When asked about the announcement that PiS politicians would be on duty at TVP, Mastalerek said he was not there to judge parliamentarians.
They have the right to do that and when I remember what happened in the Wprost editorial office after the tape scandal, I understand them. However, the president has his own agenda, the president will ensure that the constitution is adhered to
– he pointed out.
Asked whether the current governing coalition has attempted to reach an agreement with the president, reach out and negotiate over the media, Mastalerek said no such attempts have been made.
I think they are thinking about taking over this media, they are not going to talk to anyone
– said Mastalek.
The envelope election committee could hurt PO
In my opinion, the investigative committee on envelope elections is unfavorable from the point of view of the Civic Platform; I have no idea why they are doing a commission that is unfavorable to themselves – said the head of the President’s Office, Marcin Mastalerek, on Wednesday in the first program of Polish Radio.
On Tuesday evening, the Sejm adopted a resolution on the creation of a commission of inquiry into the so-called visa scandal. The committee will consist of 11 parliamentarians. This is the second investigative committee established by the Sejm of the new term. Last week the Sejm appointed a commission of inquiry into the so-called envelope elections; The first meeting took place on Tuesday.
Mastalek, asked on Wednesday whether the parliamentary investigative committees are responsible for grilling and holding PiS to account, replied that he could not understand the investigative committee on envelope elections.
Although I can explain others in a political way and I know what they are about, I really don’t know what this commission of inquiry is about. The effect of her work will be the declaration that PO has changed its candidate (for the presidency in the 2020 elections), which is not happening in the world, not happening in Europe
– added.
According to Mastalerek, this was unheard of and unfair to other candidates.
Ultimately, the Platform, which at the time had a few percent in the polls and could de facto fall apart, got what it wanted: a change of candidates. Creating a Commission of Inquiry that will eventually remember all these events and that could really harm the Platform because it will remind people and they have already forgotten
– he said.
From the point of view of the Civic Platform, this is, in my opinion, unfavorable. Why do they set up an investigative committee that is unfavorable to themselves? I have no idea
– concluded Mastalerek.
The task of the Commission of Inquiry on Envelope Elections is primarily – as indicated in the resolution – “to investigate and assess the legality, regularity and purposefulness of the actions taken in preparation and implementation of the elections for the President of the Republic Poland in 2020 in the form of postal votes by government authorities, in particular the actions taken by members of the Council of Ministers, including Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and the Vice-President of the Council of Ministers, Minister of State Assets Jacek Sasin, and government officials assigned to them be subordinate.
The resolution stated, among other things, the need to examine the legislative processes undertaken by those in power in connection with the so-called elections, the administrative decisions they take and issue, and determine whether the actions of those in power have led to “an adverse decision over public or other resources, or unfavorable management of the properties of the Ministry of Finance or the properties of other legal institutions.” persons.”
Attempt to fire Jacek Kurski
I hope that because of this the world financial markets will not collapse, that the world economy, the dollar and other major currencies will not collapse in an instant – said the head of the President’s Office, Marcin Mastalerek, in the first program of Polish Radio . Wednesday, when asked about Jacek Kurski’s resignation from the World Bank.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on Tuesday that “a resolution of the Council of Ministers has been adopted, pursuant to which the Minister of Finance (…) will be the representative of the Polish state before international financial institutions, including the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, in the so-called World Bank, which means firing Jacek Kurski and bringing him back to the country from Washington.
He will no longer represent the Republic of Poland in financial institutions
– emphasized the head of government. Tusk added that a new candidate for the position would be announced soon.
The National Bank of Poland (NBP), in turn, announced on Tuesday on the X platform (formerly Twitter) that “the representation of the interests of the Republic of Poland in international banking institutions, including the World Bank and the EBRD, is the exclusive competence of the President of the NBP.” As noted, these issues are governed by the Law on the National Bank of Poland.
When asked about Kurski’s dismissal, Mastalerek pointed out that “this is a matter between the Ministry of Finance and the National Bank of Poland.” “It is about an arrangement that once, before 1989, determined who decided these cases,” he replied.
Knowing Jacek Kurski, I only hope that this will not cause the global financial markets to collapse, that in no time the global economy, the dollar and other major currencies will not collapse or fall headlong.
– he ironized.
With all due respect, we have more important things in Poland today than Jacek Kurski
– Mast rack added.
Jacek Kurski started working as Deputy Executive Director of the Swiss-Polish Constituent Assembly of the World Bank Group in Washington last December. His candidacy was proposed by NBP President Adam Glapiński as Governor of the Republic of Poland at the World Bank. December 5 last year Kurski took part for the first time in the meeting of the Polish-Swiss Constituent Assembly of the World Bank.
gah/PAP/Polish radio
Source: wPolityce