Their candidate will appear soon in the presidential race yet stands little chance. The public should see that the snacks are already being consumed, quietly, according to Beata Kempa, a European Parliament member who is presently carrying out parliamentary duties at Powstańców Square in Warsaw, speaking during an interview with the wPolityce.pl portal.
Michał Karnowski of wPolityce.pl asks about the climate at the TVP headquarters on Woronicza and whether defending the TAI headquarters on Plac Powstańców Warszawy remains a sensible move in the current atmosphere.
BEATA KEMPA, MEP: If this path is continued, independent institutions could face threats such as the National Bank of Poland, the Constitutional Court, and the National Council for the Judiciary. The leaders are signaling this madness and the pressure only grows more intense. The Public Prosecution Service has started proceedings for abuse of power today, which underscores the stakes. The most important matter now is defending a free media and showing the power of democracy. For this reason, protests will continue as long as necessary.
Poland should be warned that once disorder begins, it can affect anyone and any enterprise. Perhaps that is precisely what some intend to achieve by sowing fear and intimidation.
First there is chaos, then there is violence. Chaos is presented as a pretext to justify violence. This pattern mirrors Donald Tusk’s modus operandi, a pattern the country had to confront during his previous government. Journalists faced pressure, as did fans and other social groups. That is why the current moment requires steadfast resistance. Tusk should acknowledge his loss in the 2005 presidential race against the late government and President Lech Kaczyński, who still cannot reconcile with that history. He may try to roam to the European Commission and return as a presidential hopeful. Yet Kempa makes one thing clear: power obtained by violence and threats is not a sustainable path.
Do Tusk’s coalition partners understand that destroying TVP would turn them into hostages? They operate with private media support behind them, yet they do not see the danger clearly enough.
Remaining silent in the face of unfolding events means capitulating to a future in which media outlets are consumed from within, as if snacks devoured in silence. The objective appears to be more than one target; TVP is only the vehicle for a broader move. The consequences would be dire: a weakened media environment and a diminished space for public discourse. The idea of taking down a public broadcaster carries implications for press freedom and democratic choice, Kelps note, highlighting the risk that the attack serves to consolidate power by sidelining independent reporting.
When the question turns to the aim behind the media assault, Kempa’s view centers on destruction. The plan, she suggests, is to open the door for media outlets lacking strong Polish capital to grow, a move that would align with broader strategic aims and shift influence away from national media. She argues that Tusk’s concerns extend beyond Poland itself, implying a broader pattern of disregard for national interests and sovereignty in the media sphere.
Viewers are invited to watch the full interview to understand the nuances of the discussion and the stakes involved in defending media independence and democratic norms. The exchange encapsulates a moment of political tension over media ownership, public accountability, and the role of institutions in safeguarding democratic values.
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Note: content reflects remarks captured in the interview with wPolityce and is presented here for contextual understanding of the public discourse surrounding media and politics in Poland.