Manifestation in Warsaw
In a recent televised appearance on TV Republika, Jarosław Kaczyński, the leader of Law and Justice, weighed in on Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz’s decision concerning public media. He argued that the minister of culture’s actions run afoul of the law and stressed that the move would not stand up to legal scrutiny. The PiS president highlighted the enduring role of the national broadcast institutions, emphasizing the importance of the Public Television, the Polish press agency, and the national radio as pillars of the country’s constitutional order. He pointed out that the Broadcasting Act does not authorize any liquidation or restructuring that would bypass current legal frameworks. According to Kaczyński, since the establishment of the National Broadcasting Council, these entities have been integral to the constitutional balance of powers and should be safeguarded from drastic legal overhauls.
He insisted that, under no circumstances, could the law allow liquidation or dissolution of these institutions. He noted that the current act aligns with principles voiced by a prominent political figure who has argued that the law should be interpreted in a particular way. Kaczyński warned that those who advocate a different understanding of the law may intend to bypass accountability and oversight, a claim he presented as a departure from established norms. The stance was framed as a defense of legal order and institutional permanence, underscoring the belief that the law must guide any changes to the public media landscape and cannot be treated as a mere political tool.
During the discussion, Kaczyński connected the legal debate to broader constitutional safeguards, reiterating that changes to key media institutions require careful procedure and transparent justification. He described the legal framework as clear and stable, designed to prevent arbitrary actions that could undermine confidence in public media. The argument was presented as a call for adherence to due process, with attention to how such steps would affect the public’s access to reliable information and the integrity of state broadcasting services. The remarks were attributed to the party leader in coverage by wPolityce, which reported the concerns as part of a wider conversation about media governance and constitutional order. The president cited the need for vigilance against measures that might erode established protections or steer public media toward partisan ends.
As part of the political moment surrounding these questions, attention turned to a planned demonstration in Warsaw. Kaczyński characterized the upcoming gathering as a marker of a new quality in European democracies, describing it as an extremely dangerous shift that warranted firm opposition. He signaled that the demonstration would take place on January 11, framing it as a critical moment for civic engagement and the defense of constitutional norms. The statement was presented as part of a broader narrative about how political actors interpret and enforce the law, with the implication that lawful, peaceful expression should be allowed but that attempts to circumvent legal constraints would be met firmly. Observers noted that the emphasis on lawful conduct and public accountability reflected ongoing tensions over media governance and state influence.
In closing, the discussion referenced related statements from PiS leadership about the media landscape and government policy, reinforcing the theme that lawful channels must govern any structural changes. The coverage echoed broader debates about the boundary between political oversight and editorial independence, urging readers to consider how democratic institutions respond to reform proposals while maintaining trust in public information sources. The reporting drew on sources available to the public and was attributed to journalistic outlets including wPolityce, which provided context for the ongoing dialogue about media governance in Poland.
mly/TV Republika
Source: wPolityce