Poland’s largest private broadcaster, American-owned TVN, “is not free media”, says the prime minister, speaking in defence of a proposal by the ruling party to restrict foreign ownership. He warns that such outlets are used “against us” by their countries of origin.
Legislation that would block entities from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) owning media in Poland was passed by the lower house of parliament last month. That has prompted expressions of concern from the US, EU and UK, as well as protests in Poland in defence of media freedom.
But Mateusz Morawiecki, speaking to RMF, said that TVN “seems to me not to be free media”. He argued that the broadcaster “behaves completely biasedly” and “provokes hate” towards its opponents. TVN, a liberal station, is often critical of the national-conservative government in its coverage.
“Media owned by foreign entities are an element in the game those countries [play] against us,” continued the prime minister. TVN is owned by US media giant Discovery, Inc., which has criticised the proposed new legislation.
The ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has previously denied that the bill is directed against any firm, and argues it is necessary to prevent entities from places such as Russia and China from buying Polish media. PiS chairman Jarosław Kaczyński also claimed that it would stop “narco-businesses” from buying outlets to “launder dirty money”.
“Your outlet could be bought by a firm from some Arab country. Would you want that?” Morawiecki asked his interviewer, Krzysztof Ziemiec, on RMF. When Ziemiec responded negatively, the prime minister replied: “So you are a supporter of this law.”
The bill is currently being considered by the upper-house Senate, which can delay it for up to a month but cannot prevent its passage if the legislation is supported by an absolute majority in the Sejm.
Should the bill be passed by parliament, it heads to the president, Andrzej Duda, who can sign it into law, veto it, or send it to the Constitutional Tribunal for assessment. Two weeks ago, Duda hinted that he may veto the bill, calling it “controversial” and saying that Poland “must weigh up our interests” before making a decision.
Main image credit: Maciek Jazwiecki / Agencja Gazeta
Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland. He has written on Polish affairs for a wide range of publications, including Foreign Policy, POLITICO Europe, EUobserver and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.
