The newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs spoke with visible nerves after the Constitutional Court issued its ruling. Krzysztof Gawkowski of the New Left said, We are not afraid of any trick. If members of the ruling party think television will stay biased, sharp, aggressive, and unwilling to tell the truth, then I intend to disappoint everyone.
Gawkowski unsettled. The ruling party and TVP are under pressure
The Constitutional Tribunal has scheduled a January hearing to consider provisions including the possibility of liquidating and dissolving entities that form units of the public broadcaster. A protective order was also issued to prevent such measures while the discussion proceeds.
Details show the Tribunal will examine the status of public media and the obligation to refrain from actions aimed at dismantling media entities.
We are not afraid of any trick. If the ruling party believes there are people who think television will remain biased, snide, or untruthful, then the leadership should expect a different outcome. This viewpoint is short-sighted, and a change is coming, he stressed.
Asked for timing, he indicated that changes would unfold soon.
I cannot speak for Minister Sienkiewicz’s decisions, but expect surprising moves that will not require long waits, he noted.
Also discussed were reports about how the government has treated the media, including critiques about the use of services or methods that could affect journalism’s independence.
The Minister of Digitalization mentioned ongoing actions related to the Electronic Communications Law Act. He stated that a decision was signed today and that further steps would follow.
He clarified that the upcoming reform of electronic communications will not include provisions that would reorder TV channels on remote controls, often referred to as an assumed power over channel placement.
Questions about religion in education and state funding
Gawkowski was asked about comments from the head of the Education Ministry on narrowing religious instruction to one hour, funded from the state budget. He expressed support for the idea, while noting that religion should remain present in catechetical settings.
He shared his personal experience with catechetical halls and said there would likely be no dramatic outcomes from adjusting how religious education is structured. He also expressed respect for Nowacka’s decision and hinted at continued dialogue on the subject, appreciating the ongoing discussion about the Concordat and the role of the episcopate in future decisions.
The conversation touched on the constitutional separation of church and state and the need for careful dialogue before any changes are implemented. He suggested a step-by-step approach to limiting religious influence in state affairs.
When Nowacka was questioned live about eliminating religion from schools, she reaffirmed the complexity of the Concordat and noted that the reform process would take time. She proposed reducing religion lessons to two hours and allowing local governments or parents to decide on additional hours with corresponding funding decisions. She also proposed scheduling religion classes at the beginning or end of the school day and ensuring that religion grades do not affect the overall grade point average.
The left’s aim appears to be accelerating political and anticlerical changes. Whether Prime Minister Tusk will embrace all ideas from his coalition partner remains to be seen.
Note: This summary reflects events reported by media outlets and is presented for informational purposes without endorsement.