2024-01-18 19:11:33
Public media
The Polish government under Prime Minister Donald Tusk suffered a major setback in its restructuring of the public media on Thursday. According to the Constitutional Court, only the National Media Council could dissolve the radio station, television and news agency. This committee was created under the PiS government.
18.01.2024 19.37
Online since today, 7:37 p.m
“The right to dismiss members of the management lies exclusively with the National Media Council,” the Constitutional Court made clear. Shortly afterwards, the Ministry of Culture described the verdict as invalid. It cited irregularities in the appointment of judges, all of whom were appointed under the recently replaced national-conservative PiS government.
The ministry also referred to previous decisions by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), according to which the Constitutional Court in its current composition is not an independent body. This intensifies the dispute between the new government led by Prime Minister Tusk and supporters of the former ruling party PiS, which also includes President Andrzej Duda.
Dispute over media in Poland
Under the former PiS government, Poland went on a collision course with the European Union in several areas. Because of doubts about the rule of law, the PiS’s judicial reform was met with sharp criticism in Brussels. But the handling of the media was also criticized. The international community has frozen billions in aid intended for Poland.
AP/Michal Dyjuk The Constitutional Court thwarted Tusk’s plans on Thursday
Former EU Council President Tusk now wants to reverse the PiS’s judicial reform and reform structures in the public media. The news channel TVP Info was temporarily switched off in December and the other TVP channels did not broadcast any news for some time. Managers were also laid off. Tusk and his supporters accused the media – especially TVP Info – of biased reporting in favor of the PiS government.
PiS fueled protests against the Tusk government
The conflict in the Polish media landscape is one of several that broke out after the change of power in Poland. Given the current composition of the Polish Constitutional Court, many lawyers doubt its legitimacy. However, some others, such as the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, question the Culture Ministry’s actions.
The dispute following the change of government is leading to increasing domestic political tensions in Poland. Last week, tens of thousands of supporters of the voted-out PiS gathered in front of parliament to protest against the imprisonment of two former ministers who were convicted of abuse of power. Duda said he had initiated proceedings to pardon the two politicians.
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