Criticism of Poland's media law: harsh words, no consequences

The day after the Polish parliament passed a controversial broadcasting law under no less controversial circumstances, the EU and the United States spoke up.

"Strong democracies welcome media pluralism and diversity of opinion, they don't fight against it," wrote Věra Jourová, Vice President of the EU Commission, on Twitter.

The President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, has described the law passed as a serious threat to independent television in Poland.

Niklas Zimmermann

Editor in politics.

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Werner Mussler

Business correspondent in Brussels.

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As sharp as the tone of the Brussels reactions were, they were vague on the subject.

A spokesman pointed out that in its July report on the rule of law, the Commission also expressed its concerns about the increasing threat to freedom of the press in Poland.

But he also recalled that the law had only been passed at first reading.

Therefore, further steps - such as further infringement proceedings - are currently out of the question.

Blinken demands more than just confessions from Warsaw

It was only in July that the Commission threatened to impose fines on Poland if the country fails to remedy the violations of the rule of law alleged by Brussels. The Commission had given Warsaw an ultimatum until next week and demanded that Poland respect the case law of the European Court of Justice on the disciplinary body of the Polish Supreme Court by then. The Commission apparently does not (yet) want to link the Broadcasting Act to the ongoing proceedings.

The American Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed Warsaw in particularly harsh words. He had already announced on Wednesday evening that the United States was "deeply concerned" about the amendment that had been passed. “This draft law would significantly weaken the media environment that Poles have worked on for so long. Free and independent media make our democracies stronger, the transatlantic alliance more resilient and are of fundamental importance for bilateral relations. "

Because the law, also known as Lex TVN in Poland, is directed against a television station controlled by the American media group Discovery, Blinken did not forget to mention that large US investments in Poland contribute to prosperity and collective security.

The draft law not only threatens the free media, but could also “undermine Poland's strong investment climate”.

It contradicts the principles and values ​​that modern, democratic nations stand for.

"We call on the Polish government to demonstrate its commitment to these common principles not only in words but also in deeds", Blinken concluded his statement, which must be understood as a clear admonition.

Opposition wants to sue the President of Parliament

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki of the national conservative ruling party PiS has rejected the corresponding criticism from the United States, which is traditionally a close ally of Warsaw. He asked to analyze exactly what it was about, said Morawiecki on Thursday. "There are no intentions here with regard to specific television stations." With the amended law, broadcasting licenses are only to be granted to foreigners in the future if they "have their headquarters or their place of residence in the European Economic Area". Polish licensees are also not allowed to be dependent on someone who is based outside of the country.

Not only Washington and Brussels sharply criticize the amendment to the law passed on Wednesday evening. In Poland, too, immediately after the parliamentary vote, thousands of opponents of "Lex TVN" took to the streets. There were protests not only in front of the Sejm in Warsaw, but also in numerous other cities in the country. “Free media, free people, free Poland,” chanted demonstrators in Lublin. In the south-east Polish metropolis, the entrance to a PiS office was also smeared and eggs and tomatoes were thrown at it.

The anger is directed not just against the Broadcasting Act itself, but at least as strongly against the way it was passed by the Sejm. First the opposition succeeded in a coup when the first chamber of parliament decided with 229 to 227 votes not to vote on the law until September. But after Sejm Marshal Elzbieta Witek declared that she had failed to name a date for the new vote, the vote was repeated with the votes of the PiS and the actually opposition right-wing protest party Kukiz'15. The group around the rock musician Pawel Kukiz changed sides within just a few hours and in the end made a decisive contribution to the government being able to pass the law. There are allegations that something in return was promised for the pan, which Kukiz firmly denies.

But Sejmmarschall Witek is even more dissatisfied with the democratic opposition to the Civic Platform (PO). The government opponents do not believe that she is contrite about her alleged formal error. PO MPs have announced that they will file criminal charges against the President of the PiS Parliament. Otherwise, the Polish opponents of the amended law can only hope that the Senate, in which the opposition has a narrow majority, will reject the law. The Sejm, as the first chamber of parliament, can in turn overrule its vote with a simple majority. On Wednesday evening, the PiS impressively demonstrated that even after the break of the government alliance with the conservative-liberal Porozumienie party of the previous Development Minister Jaroslaw Gowin.