Freedom of the press in Poland is increasingly in danger.
One day after the collapse of the national-conservative coalition in the country, parliament approves the government’s controversial media law. The law was passed in Warsaw on Wednesday evening with 228 votes in favor to 216 against. Ten others abstained.
Despite the government crisis, the ruling party PiS managed to get enough votes in parliament.
But what is behind the new law?
It stipulates that in future broadcasting licenses may only be issued to foreigners in Poland if they “have their headquarters or their place of residence in the European Economic Area”. In addition, the condition applies that the licensee must not be dependent on someone who has headquarters or residence outside of this economic area.
According to critics, the government is primarily concerned with putting a stop to the private broadcaster TVN, which is part of the US group Discovery via a holding company registered in the Netherlands. The news channel TVN24 represents a line that is critical of the PiS.
Harsh criticism comes from Washington. The US State Department calls on the government in Warsaw to demonstrate its commitment to democratic values and freedom of the press. High-ranking representatives of the US State Department had contact with Polish representatives in the hours before the vote, the ministry spokesman said.
The change in the law has to go through the Senate, the second chamber, after approval by the Sejm, the first chamber of parliament. He can still make suggestions for changes.
Poland’s government bursts
The conflict over this law had previously escalated within the Polish government alliance. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki (53) dismissed his deputy Jaroslaw Gowin (59) on Tuesday. Thereupon its group Porozumenie (Understanding) terminated their cooperation with the PiS. Five deputy ministers from Gowin’s camp volunteered. Porozumenie formed the list alliance “United Rights” with the PiS and another small party and provided twelve of 232 members of the government camp.
The official reason for Gowin’s dismissal was that his group had not worked on reforms of the PiS at a sufficient pace. Gowin had criticized that massive tax increases are planned for a planned economic stimulus program. But he also warned that the broadcasting law could damage Poland’s relationship with the United States.
Against the background of the government crisis, there was a bizarre tug-of-war between the opposition and the PiS in the Sejm before the vote on the Broadcasting Act. With a motion on the agenda, the opposition initially managed to postpone the vote to September. There were tumultuous scenes in the hall, PiS boss Jaroslaw Kaczynski (72) and his colleagues were visibly duped in their seats.
After a long break from the session, the President of Parliament Elzbieta Witek (63) finally announced that a vote should be taken again to postpone the session. This time the PiS triumphed – the meeting continued. The opposition MPs reacted indignantly, some spoke of fraud and announced legal action.
In the subsequent vote on the Broadcasting Act, the PiS secured a majority with the help of the opposition, right-wing protest party Kukiz 15 and votes from five Gowin people.
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