The head of the Prime Minister’s Chancellery accused members of Law and Justice who defend Telewizja Polska and PAP against a push by the Culture Minister of displaying aggressive conduct at a press conference. He announced that a new order for public media is being built, with the aim of operating openly and transparently, as if drawing back the curtain. The objective, in his view, is to ensure that TVP becomes what it should be, a real Telewizja Polska.
During a briefing at the Chancellery, the official stated that the Sejm resolution touches on public media and, referencing a Constitutional Court decision from December 13, 2016, called for immediate actions to restore the rule of law and guarantee citizen access to information until suitable legal solutions are in place.
In light of this resolution, preparations for a broader reform of public media are underway. Discussions about this reform have begun at the highest level with the president, and the process is planned to be broad in scope. It should occur in an environment of social dialogue and take into account the views of all stakeholders, including creative communities and civil society groups.
The official stressed that the reforms will be carried out with opportunities for broad public consultation and input from various sectors, including the public. He suggested that the approach would be transparent and dialog-driven, inviting contributions from different corners of society.
Experts, however, note concerns that the government’s actions could be misaligned with the Constitution, and some observers claim that what is described as free media is being affected in the process.
READ MORE:
– Lawyers in a statement for the free media highlighted what they view as unconstitutional moves by the Tusk team regarding TVP
– Constitutional analysts argued that certain steps lacked a solid legal basis and that laws were not created during political gatherings
– Questions were raised about whether the government is responding to conversations between Duda and Tusk and whether a formal draft has been submitted to the president
Accusations against PiS politicians
The spokesperson also outlined the government’s version of recent events in public media. He claimed that on December 19, the Culture Minister announced general meetings of the shareholders in public media companies and that the meetings led to the dismissal of supervisory boards. On December 20, TVP appointed a new chair to its board, and the following day representatives met with the departing president. The former head noted the supervisory board’s decisions, and the new leadership began directing the company. A subsequent attempt to meet with TVP staff did not occur because a group including PiS MPs entered the TVP building and disrupted the planned discussions. The outgoing and incoming leadership described the encounter as marked by aggressive behavior from the PiS parliamentarians and their supporters.
The opposition claimed that attempts were made to block the office of the new TVP president and hinder him from carrying out his duties. They asserted that the police were notified and that the new TVP leadership cited possible crimes related to restricting movement, interfering with official duties, and disrupting work caused by aggressive actions.
Questions were raised about whether the Tusk government considers appointing new presidents, cutting off signals, and restricting staff access to property as part of a broader effort to influence the public media, framed as a process with an open curtain. Critics argued that the coalition had already violated the law and the Constitution.
READ ALSO:
– A national media council statement characterized attempts to dismiss public media authorities as non-existent
– Reports noted that a recent TVP program was not recorded at its usual location, suggesting shifts in the media landscape
– Debates about who holds legitimate authority at PAP continued, with discussions about legal leadership
– A unique recording of a nighttime defense of TVP headquarters was mentioned in coverage
In summary, the evolving situation surrounding public media is presented as a clash between reform efforts and long-standing institutional norms. The conversation emphasizes the desire for an open, consultative process while highlighting disagreements over legality and constitutional propriety.
Note: This report reflects the contemporary discourse around the governance of public media and its interaction with political leadership, with attribution to contemporaneous sources within the media landscape.
Source: wPolityce