Polish MPs unexpectedly approved the amendment to the media bill. A controversial text, because this amendment by the conservative Law and Justice party seeks to prevent foreign companies – outside the European Economic Area – from being able to be the majority shareholder of the Polish media. Its detractors denounce a political maneuver.
With our correspondent in Warsaw, Sarah Bakaloglou
In Poland, the vote on the media law on Friday, December 17 surprised everyone: the deputies were warned about twenty minutes in advance, and no discussion on the substance of the text took place, and this, then that the Senate opposed it this summer.
According to opponents of the amendment, the objective of the amendment would be to silence the influential network of private television channels TVN, owned by the American group Discovery and whose content is considered far too hostile by the majority in power. On TVN24, one of the most influential news channels in the country and directly concerned by this text, a special edition was launched when the law was announced.
A political maneuver?
Very quickly, in a press release, the Discovery group denounces ” an unprecedented attack on free media “Aiming” the biggest and most important Polish ally, as the United States is the base of Polish security and represents a large part of its economy “. For its part, the opposition denounces a government maneuver to divert attention from other controversies, in particular the announcement on Friday of the increase in gas and electricity prices next year …
American reaction after the express adoption by Polish deputies of the “TVN law”, a controversial law seen as an attack on press freedom targeting the Discovery group, owner of the television channel TVN24 #lexTVN https://t.co/m1OhZI0AG6
– Sarah Bakaloglou (@SarahBkl) December 17, 2021
In any case, since the rise to power of the Law and Justice party, Poland has continued to tumble in the world ranking of press freedom year after year. The government wishing ” repolonize the media That is to say, to exclude foreign shareholders which, according to him, instills a biased editorial line. All eyes are now on President Andrzej Duda, as it is up to him to sign the new media law or not.
Opposition leader Donald Tusk called for a protest this Sunday, while the charge d’affaires of the American embassy in Warsaw said the country was extremely disappointed and said he hoped President Duda would decide to protect the freedom of expression and economic relations.
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