During a press conference, Jan Dziedziczak questioned whether parliamentarian life would look like under the December 13 coalition and whether the Sejm, under the leadership of its Chair, Szymon Hołownia, would operate as expected.
PiS MPs Piotr Gliński and Jan Dziedziczak, both members of the Commission for Liaison with Poland Abroad, spoke at a conference about a controversy that arose during a committee meeting.
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Konwiński closed the meeting
A contentious moment unfolded. By invoking Article 152 of the Rules of Procedure of the Sejm, which allows a group of parliamentarians to convene a committee on important matters, a meeting was organized with representatives from the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The committee examined the impact of events from December 2023 on public media, particularly media serving Poles abroad. Telewizja Polska operates three channels for cooperation with Poles abroad: TVP Polonia, TVP World, and TVP Wilno. The December events, however, led to the shutdown of the largest English-language platform that connects with compatriots overseas and with audiences following developments in Poland, Central Europe, and Ukraine’s conflict with Russia. This channel has long reported on Ukraine and Poland’s role in supporting Kyiv. Following orders from Colonel Sienkiewicz’s team, the channel was closed.
– said Jan Dziedziczak.
The committee was convened in line with the rules. A list of issues, including concerns raised by compatriots abroad, was presented. The chairman Konwiński stated that government representatives refused to attend the committee, and the meeting was adjourned without discussion.
– continued the PiS MP.
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Is this how parliamentarism will function under the governance seen as the December 13 coalition? Is this how the Sejm should work under the leadership of Speaker Szymon Hołownia?
– Dziedziczak queried. He added that he wished to know whether Hołownia would approve such developments and whether he would step in to ensure free discussion at committee meetings. According to him, this represents another instance of discussions being shut down during committee sessions, depriving committees of their role as forums for parliamentary debate.
‘A new phase in the decline of Polish democracy’
The refusal to participate in this procedure was described as further evidence of Poland sliding toward totalitarianism
– Gliński argued. He described the scene as a cabaret and called the moment a new stage in the erosion of Polish democracy, marked by pride, contempt, and arrogance from the authorities. He warned that a crucial mechanism for democratic oversight of power had been dismantled, making it impossible to convene a committee at the request of opposition MPs to address issues of national importance.
– Gliński added.
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Gliński noted that TVP Polonia, TVP World, and TVP Wilno were not involved in the current political clash. He described them as highly professional in their work and careful to avoid partisan conflicts in Poland. Yet these channels were shuttered. The belief is that they are now being transformed into thematic newsrooms with diminished reach and influence.
– he said.
According to Gliński, the driving force behind the changes in public neo-media appears to be an effort to weaken these outlets and prevent them from competing with commercial media. The impression remains that a broader strategic reorganization is underway.
– he added.
wPolityce/PAP/kot
Source: wPolityce