Thursday, August 12, 2021
Sharp criticism from the USA
Poland’s parliament approves broadcasting law
The national-conservative government alliance in Poland has collapsed. Nevertheless, parliament is to decide on a new broadcasting law, which is viewed with great suspicion, especially in the USA. The meeting turns into a showdown between the opposition and the battered ruling party PiS.
After the break of the Polish government alliance in the dispute over a new broadcasting law, the parliament in Warsaw approved the amendment. In the vote on Wednesday evening, 228 MPs voted for and 216 against. Ten others abstained. Despite a smoldering government crisis, the national-conservative ruling party PiS finally managed to get enough votes in parliament.
The change provides that in future broadcasting licenses in Poland may only be issued to foreigners 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 law targets the private broadcaster TVN, which is part of the US group Discovery through a holding company registered in the Netherlands. The news channel TVN24 represents a line that is critical of the PiS.
Concern in the US
Sharp criticism came from Washington. The US State Department called on the government in Warsaw to demonstrate its commitment to democratic values and freedom of the press. Senior officials from the US State Department had contact with Polish officials in the hours before the vote, said the department’s spokesman, Ned Price. “Poland is an important NATO ally who understands that the transatlantic alliance is not only based on mutual interests when it comes to our common security, but also on mutual commitment to shared democratic values and prosperity,” warned Price.
After approval by the Sejm, the first chamber of parliament, the change in the law still has to pass through the Senate, the second chamber. He can still make suggestions for changes. The conflict over this law had previously escalated within the Polish government alliance. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki dismissed his deputy Jaroslaw Gowin 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 12 of 232 members of the government camp. The official reason for the dismissal of 59-year-old Gowin was that his group had not worked on reforms of the PiS at a sufficient pace. Gowin had criticized the fact 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.
Tumult-like scenes in parliament
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 and his colleagues were visibly duped in their seats. After a long break, the President of Parliament Witek finally announced that a vote should be taken again to postpone the meeting. 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 with votes from five Gowin people.
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