Officials promise to restore public media in line with the law after the new government takes power
In a legally compliant move, television, radio, and public media would return to public ownership. This was stated by Vice-President Borys Budka in the Sejm on Wednesday, in response to a letter from the Chairman of the National Broadcasting Council, Maciej Świrski, addressed to the boards of directors of public media.
Amid statements from some party representatives about forming a future parliamentary majority and potential changes to public media, Świrski sent a special letter to the boards of public media. The contents were subsequently published by media outlets, including the industry portal VirtualMedia.pl.
The head of the National Broadcasting Council urged careful attention to the safety of staff and facilities used to create and broadcast programs. He called for stringent internal security measures, stronger building security, and thorough checks on guests and other non-employees, emphasizing a proactive approach to protecting people and property involved in public programming.
– wrote the head of the National Broadcasting Council.
Budka addresses the head of the National Broadcasting Council in Sejm proceedings
The vice-president of PO and head of the KO club, Borys Budka, was asked about the issue during Sejm discussions. He noted that several prominent public figures have sought to undermine the institutions they lead, and he described the National Broadcasting Council as a key actor in today’s media landscape.
Budka stressed that the Council should safeguard media pluralism and reliability. He criticized Świrski for not taking decisive action during years when publicly funded media appeared to align with a single political party, arguing that such inaction damaged the credibility of national broadcasting.
Budka suggested that the reputation of the Council is further harmed when officials engage in rhetoric that undermines their own authority. He asserted that a robust, independent public media system requires constant vigilance and transparent conduct from those entrusted with oversight.
Television, radio, and public media would revert to public ownership in a manner aligned with constitutional and legal standards. This transition would occur promptly after the formation of the new government, Budka announced. He added that the public would be informed about concrete steps as decisions are made.
Speaking on constitutional grounds, Budka reminded Świrski and other members of the National Broadcasting Council that certain powers previously granted to the National Media Council by the ruling party were deemed unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court. He cited the 2016 ruling, which found that excluding the Council from the appointment process for leaders of public broadcasting bodies was unconstitutional. A 2015 amendment to the Broadcasting Act had already shifted influence over appointments, with the National Media Council gaining authority to appoint leaders at TVP and Polish Radio, among others.
Asked whether the parties forming a parliamentary majority had begun any concrete steps toward altering public media, Budka confirmed that some actions had been initiated and indicated that full details would be shared with the public as decisions progressed.
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Note: All items are attributed to contemporary public discussions and official statements reported by media outlets; no direct quotes are presented as verbatim beyond the context shown above. The content reflects ongoing political discourse and institutional debates surrounding the future structure and governance of public media in Poland.
This summary consolidates recent exchanges and emphasizes legal and institutional considerations shaping the future of public broadcasting in the country, with attention to safeguarding staff, ensuring transparency, and maintaining media pluralism and reliability.