The Chairman of the National Broadcasting Council, Maciej Świrski, gave a speech on the situation of public media in Poland at the ERGA meeting in Brussels. “They expressed their solidarity with me and were also shocked by the information about the actions of the Polish authorities against Fr. Olszewski and the attack on the National Council of the Judiciary,” Świrski noted.
The head of the National Broadcasting Council announced his initiative on social media.
On 3 and 4 July I was in Brussels at the meeting of ERGA – the Association of European Audiovisual Supervisors. I gave a speech there, the text of which is below. I informed my colleagues about the situation of the public media in Poland. They expressed their solidarity with me and were also shocked by the information about the actions of the Polish authorities against Fr. Olszewski and the attack on the National Council of the Judiciary
— wrote Maciej Świrski on the X platform.
Świrski’s speech
Maciej Świrski also posted the text of his speech on the X platform.
I am writing to you today with grave concerns about the recent actions taken by the Polish government in relation to our public media. These actions undermine the independence and integrity of our broadcasting system, which is essential for the functioning of democracy. This threat arose after the last parliamentary elections in Poland and the formation of the government of Donald Tusk
– He wrote.
First, we have seen increasing government interference in editorial decisions. This interference undermines the objectivity and credibility of press releases, which are crucial for informed public debate. In addition, there have been dismissals of journalists who disagree with government actions, threatening their ability to act independently and serve the public interest.
– he pointed out.
Most disturbingly, the government took the initiative to illegally suppress public media. This drastic action threatens the existence of institutions that play a key role in providing impartial information and supporting public debate. An illustration of the disastrous situation in Poland is the recent case of Father Olszewski, who was tortured by the police after being wrongly arrested. Public media, under the authority and pressure of the government, did not report this important and disturbing event. This silence is an example of the erosion of media freedom and the suppression of important information. All this is happening after the last elections in which Donald Tusk took power. All government actions regarding public media are illegal and are aimed at bringing public media under tighter government control, which is contrary to European standards and principles of media freedom, as well as to Polish law and the Constitution.
– added.
Świrski drew attention to the latest scandalous action in the National Council of the Judiciary.
Yesterday, a prosecutor from the government’s National Prosecutor’s Office, without any legal basis, together with police, forcibly entered the office of the National Council of the Judiciary. The council is independent of all branches of government and is responsible for ensuring the independence of judges. The intruders broke down the doors of the offices of judges who are disciplinary prosecutors and conduct proceedings against judges accused of violating their judicial dignity. Steel cabinets containing files were broken into and the files were taken to an unknown location. This was done in violation of all provisions relating to judicial independence and judicial immunity
– he said.
Furthermore, the authorities intend to bring me, as chairman of the National Broadcasting Council, before the State Tribunal for defending media freedom and opposing the illegal liquidation of public media. This is a form of intimidation of an independent constitutional body
– he pointed out.
I call on my fellow regulators to stand in solidarity with us in defending the independence of public media. Let us work together to uphold the principles of free and independent media that are the foundation of our democracies. Long live freedom of expression
– Świrski emphasized.
READ ALSO:
– OUR NEWS. The request to bring Maciej Świrski before the State Tribunal has formal flaws! Case postponed
— The Sejm Committee rejected the KRRiT report on its activities in 2023. The representative of the Head of the Council reported forced access to the media
– OUR NEWS. The request to bring Maciej Świrski before the State Tribunal has formal flaws! Case postponed
husband/X
Source: wPolityce