Czabański wrote to Hołownia. “Until the rule of law returns to public media, I see no way to participate in the debates.”

The Sejm dismissed the chairman of the National Media Council, Krzysztof Czabański, from the position of chairman. However, before the vote took place, Marshal Szymon Hołownia read Czabański’s letter, written in a determined tone, which was first accessed in July through the wPolityce.pl portal.

The Sejm, with the votes of MPs from KO, PSL, Polski 2050, Left and Konfederacja, dismissed Krzysztof Czabański from RMN. He did not participate in the plenary meeting of the Sejm, where the debate on the motion of KO deputies took place. He also did not participate in yesterday’s meeting of the parliamentary committee on culture and media, which issued advice on this motion. Czabański gave a clear reason for his decision not to participate in the work of parliament.

Due to the fact that the government of Donald Tusk, with the approval of the Sejm majority, by violating the applicable legal order, taking over and liquidating public media companies, I kindly inform the Marshal that until this situation changes – that is, the rule of law in public media does not return – I do not see any possibility participate in the plenary sessions of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, or in the meeting of the Sejm committee dedicated to the consideration of the above-mentioned RMN information

– explains Krzysztof Czabański in a letter to Szymon Hołownia, which the Marshal of the Sejm read out just before the vote.

REMINDER: Czabański turns to Hołownia. This is about public media! “Until the rule of law returns, I see no way…”

Law? As we understand them…

MPs of the Civic Coalition accused Krzysztof Czabański of violating the ban on combining the position of head of the RMN with participation “in an entity that is a media service provider or a radio or television producer.” This is about Czabański’s seat on the Institute’s Council. Lech Kaczyński, the majority shareholder of Srebrna and Geranium. According to media reports, these in turn have shares in other companies engaged in media activities: “Gazeta Polska Dzień”, niedzielna.pl and Telewizja Republika.

It’s just that the Institute of Lech Kaczyński does not conduct any media activities. Politicians from the ruling camp, who sought to dismiss Krzysztof Czabański as head of the RMN, cited legal opinions that significantly broadened the interpretation of the legal ban. However, such an interpretation of the ban is not justified, according to the legal opinion obtained by the wPolityce.pl portal

The law prohibits holding shares or interests in entities that provide media services or otherwise participate in these entities. This prohibition should apply only to those entities in which a particular person holds shares or units or in whose activities he participates.

– assessed by legal expert. It is clearly stated that an expansive interpretation of the ban is unacceptable and this position has been expressed in several court decisions.

READ ALSO: The Sejm dismissed the chairman of the National Media Council, Krzysztof Czabański. Lichocka: You’re attacking the media. You’re breaking the law

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