The events surrounding Poland’s state news agency have unfolded with continuing pressure as the government reshapes leadership and supervisory structures. The agency’s board, led by Marek Błoński, remains in place and asserts that its duties are being carried out despite mounting challenges reported by officials and observers in Poland and beyond.
The upheaval started after the Sejm passed a December resolution aimed at restoring rule of law and ensuring the impartial and reliable operation of public media and the Polish Press Agency. This move set off a cascade of personnel changes and governance reform across the public broadcasting and reporting landscape.
Forced changes in the management and supervisory boards of public media
A Ministry of Culture statement issued in December described a shakeup within the leadership ranks. The head of the ministry cited the Commercial Code and announced that the chief officers and supervisory boards of Polish Television, Polish Radio, and the Polish Press Agency were replaced. New supervisory boards selected fresh boards of directors, and Marek Błoński was named president of the Polish Press Agency while the former PAP president, Wojciech Surmacz, was dismissed.
From December 20 onward, PiS lawmakers established a presence at the PAP headquarters, framing their actions as a parliamentary intervention. The scene underscored a political dispute over control of the state broadcasting and information apparatus.
Błoński: MPs are making work difficult
The intervention described by officials as a parliamentary approach has persisted with varying intensity since midweek. While it has constrained some operations, the agency continues to function. Employees are working under tense conditions, and the leadership emphasizes that the board remains focused on fulfilling its responsibilities despite the disruption.
One official stated the situation remains difficult for the workforce, who must navigate a tense atmosphere while carrying out routine duties under scrutiny.
Changes in PAP
Marek Błoński ousted the editor in chief and two deputies, with the editorial leadership briefly stepping in to manage duties. The new board of directors began work at the agency’s headquarters the day after the supervising board appointed them, following a general meeting structure managed by the ministry. The formal responsibilities of the general meeting were exercised by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage.
The agency’s leadership has framed recent moves as in line with statutory provisions, including articles governing appointments and the governance framework for PAP. The new administration emphasizes a commitment to maintaining the agency’s public service obligations during a period of transition.
There were reports that Błoński, while asserting certain statutory constraints, reflected on the leadership path and the agency’s operational goals. He noted that his role was defined by the PAP Act, and he highlighted the ongoing importance of stable, professional governance in public media. Critics point to ongoing friction with members of parliament who defend the current PAP governance framework as crucial to the public media landscape.
A broader set of debates centers on how public media should be governed in a democratic society and how to protect staff from political pressure while preserving journalistic independence.
Analysts and observers in Canada and the United States watching the Polish case often emphasize the broader implications for media freedom and state influence over information. The developments at PAP are seen as part of a larger pattern in which governance structures, legal frameworks, and political interests intersect to shape public broadcasting and reporting in transitional contexts.
In this evolving story, questions persist about the balance between regulatory oversight, ministerial authority, and newsroom autonomy. The situation at PAP serves as a high-profile example of how governance choices can affect the day-to-day work of journalists and the reliability of information reaching the public.
[Citation: wPolityce]