Polish influencer driving force in protests against the government

2021-03-19T19:31:48.692Z

In Poland, there is an intense debate about the independence of the media. Critics say the ruling party is trying to take control of the independent media that still remains in the country. The government defends the reforms but more and more young Poles back the traditional media. Instead, influencers have become a driving political force in protests against the government.

Polish influencer Jakobe Mansztajns is one of the driving forces behind the wave of protests against the government that is sweeping over Poland.

His Instagram account "Make life harder" has one million followers and 130 million views a week.

- With memes you can tell about what is happening in the country, says Jakobe Mansztajn.

From the beginning, Jakobe Mansztajn posted the most jokes, but as he became more political, the number of followers has increased.

Young ratar public service

They are the young people who dominate the many demonstration trains.

They are protesting against abortion bans, the country's LGBTQ policy and the government in general.

And they no longer recognize themselves in the image of the country that is painted in the public service company TVP.

One of them is Mateusz Durlik, editor of a web-based local newspaper.

- Polish public service television is like using violence against the intellect.

For me, it is really a challenge to be able to see an entire program there.

State oil company took over regional newspapers

The debate about the media situation is no longer just about Polish public service.

Recently, the state-owned oil company Orlen took over a German-owned media group that owns almost all Polish regional newspapers.

The acquisition was made with the support of the national conservative government party, Law and Justice, which does not want the media to be owned by foreign companies.

The EU has little opportunity to influence

The EU has little opportunity to work for independent media, says Vera Jourova, Vice-President of the European Commission and responsible for justice.

- What we in the EU have the opportunity to do is to demand that the companies report their ownership and demand independent boards in the media companies.

According to Vera Jourova, the main problem is that there is no public service media in Poland.

- In Poland and Hungary, there is no public service media, there is only state media, and the EU does not have power over this.

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Polish influencer driving force in protests against the government

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