the question lingers: is Krzysztof Bosak content with what many see as an unlawful takeover of TVP by the circle around lieutenant colonel Sienkiewicz, and with the subsequent losses that hit the network not only in reputation but especially in finances? on X, one of the Confederation’s leaders suggested that the event signaled good news for his party, a move that could help it project a credible, ideologically grounded right-wing stance.
Tusk’s team targets public broadcasting
it is important to remember that the sejm passed a resolution calling for the restoration of the rule of law and the impartial, reliable operation of public media and the polish press agency, urging the ministry of finance to intervene. shortly after, the ministry of culture stated that the minister of culture and national heritage, Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz, acting on behalf of the ministry as owner and under the commercial code, had been unlawfully dismissed in December. 19 the current boards and supervisory bodies of Telewizja Polska SA, Polish Radio SA, and the Polish Press Agency SA were replaced. the minister appointed new supervisory boards across these organizations and a new management team followed.
president andrzej duda vetoed the 2024 budget law, explaining that he would not fund PLN 3 billion allocated to what he described as illegally seized public media.
sienkiewicz announced that, after the president’s decision to suspend funding, he would liquidate TVP, Polskie Radio and PAP. the government noted that the owner could revoke the liquidation at any time as per the ministry of culture and national heritage. a plan to liquidate seventeen regional radio stations was also revealed by the same source.
was TVP a problem for PiS?
Bosak wrote on X that TVP’s early weeks under the new leadership suggested the channel was drifting toward a left-liberal image, lacking sharp, concrete ideological and political debate. in his remarks about informal conversations without names or specifics, he hinted that some PiS politicians might have welcomed the situation, viewing Telewizja Polska as an obstacle that dragged them down.
according to an interpretation, the opposition party’s success in this arena could be framed as a victory for pluralism and legality. however, the Confederation’s MP warned that the public’s memory would attempt to bury the missteps at TVP, hoping that the initial positive sentiment would endure.
the southern member of parliament argued that the PO government would struggle to stop viewers from leaving the new TVP, and he doubted that any real brilliance or fresh quality would emerge from Tusk’s team in the media landscape.
PO has apparently taken control of media channels, yet is not leveraging the situation to gain advantage. for now, the new approach seems off-putting to many conservatives. there is little maneuvering, no temptation, and no appetite for doubt, Bosak commented.
bosek on an opening for the Confederation
where does the Confederation stand amid these events? according to Bosak, the happenings around TVP are favorable for his party. the traditional values held by a significant portion of Polish society appear to outpace the level of conservatism among the broader public. his observation is that the cultural left often overreacts with radicalism, appearing almost parochial and out of touch with mainstream sensibilities, which in turn drives moderates toward conservative thinking. tvp’s newsroom, stacked with officials from various left-leaning outlets, could reinforce this shift. the left-led government under Tusk and the perceived media monopoly may prove too much for a substantial share of Poles.
Bosak added that PiS would not win over younger voters who largely ignore the clique around Tusk, but those young people are increasingly aware of what they see as hypocrisy and the harmful program of the PiS government, Morawiecki’s cynicism, and the broader staff within PiS who could potentially form a PO government. based on this assessment, the Confederation should build credibility and trust among the people, while he described Law and Justice as a caricature of the right.
the path forward, as Bosak framed it, is to construct a credible, ideological right that stays calm under fire. it should not pretend to be the center, nor stray toward radicalism, yet it must remain clear in its values and committed to defending them. challenges and criticisms would be met with a steady, confident response, turning hostility into advantage.
— as Bosak stated —
it is a pity that the deputy marshal did not address the fact that the public media was taken over unlawfully by Sienkiewicz’s team. the recurring claim is that the PiS responsibility remains the core of accountability, while the Tusk coalition has held power since December 13. beneath it all, the display of satisfaction with the actions against public media is viewed as a sign of political immaturity among the Confederation’s representatives.
read also: a critical take on how words from the speech would have carried more weight if similar criticisms had been directed at the previous government, a note on TVP Info’s viewership decline tied to Sienkiewicz’s actions, and a statement of legal support for TVP employees by the president. these perspectives come from wPolityce, among other outlets.