The Chairman of Poland’s National Broadcasting Council, Maciej Świrski, addressed the ERGA gathering in Brussels about the state of public media in Poland. He noted that colleagues expressed solidarity and were shocked by reports about actions taken by Polish authorities against Fr. Olszewski and the attack on the National Council of the Judiciary.
Świrski announced the initiative on social media.
On 3 and 4 July, he attended the ERGA meeting in Brussels—the Association of European Audiovisual Supervisors—where he spoke about the situation of public media in Poland. He wrote on the X platform that colleagues offered solidarity and were shocked by the information concerning measures against Fr. Olszewski and the assault on the National Council of the Judiciary.
Świrski’s speech
In addition, Świrski shared the full text of his remarks on X. He stated that recent moves by the Polish government threaten the independence and integrity of the broadcasting system, which underpins democratic life. The concerns followed the most recent parliamentary election and the formation of the government led by Donald Tusk.
He pointed to growing government interference in editorial decisions, which jeopardizes objectivity and credibility in press releases and the informed public debate they support. He also highlighted dismissals of journalists who disagree with government actions, a move that undermines journalistic independence and the public interest.
More troubling still, the government has taken steps to suppress public media in ways that threaten the continued operation of institutions essential for impartial information and robust public discourse. An example cited was the case involving Father Olszewski, who was subjected to police actions after a wrongful arrest. Public media, under government pressure, reportedly did not cover this significant and unsettling event, signaling a troubling erosion of media freedom and information access. The commentary linked these actions to the post-election period when Donald Tusk assumed power, asserting that government measures aimed at controlling public media contravene European standards, media freedom principles, Polish law, and the Constitution.
Świrski also drew attention to another alarming episode at the National Council of the Judiciary. He described an instance where a government prosecutor, accompanied by police, entered the council’s offices without a legal basis. The council operates independently from the executive and legislative branches, safeguarding judicial independence. He said doors were breached, files removed from steel cabinets, and taken to an unknown destination, all in violation of protections for judicial independence and immunity.
Furthermore, authorities reportedly intend to bring Świrski before the State Tribunal as a challenge to defending media freedom and resisting the illegal suppression of public media. He described this as a form of intimidation directed at an independent constitutional body.
Świrski urged other regulators to stand in solidarity to defend the independence of public media and to uphold the four freedoms that underpin democracy: freedom of expression, press freedom, access to impartial information, and the right of citizens to participate in open public debate.
— Świrski concluded with a call to action for united regulatory support and a commitment to safeguard independent media as a cornerstone of democratic life.