Warsaw (AFP)
The Polish parliament passed a controversial media law on Wednesday evening that threatens press freedom, according to the opposition, and will undermine relations with the United States, a success for power marred by the failure of others votes that weaken the majority.
The law, the draft of which has already been criticized by Washington, could in particular force the American group Discovery to sell most of its stake in the Polish private television network TVN, often critical of the conservative government.
The text was adopted by 228 votes for and 216 against.
Ten deputies abstained.
Parliament's decision constitutes "an unprecedented attack on freedom of expression and the independence of the media," TVN management said in a statement on Wednesday evening.
"The result of today's vote undermines property rights, which worries foreign investors in Poland. It also undoubtedly undermines the foundations of the Polish-American alliance built over the past 30 years," said the television management, which also called on the Senate and the president to reject the law.
The United States, through the voice of the head of diplomacy Antony Blinken, said Wednesday evening "deeply concerned" by the passage of the law.
"This bill would strongly weaken the media environment that the Polish people have worked for so long to build", said the Secretary of State in a statement, adding that the project went "against the principles and values that modern and democratic nations defend ".
- Four lost votes-
The vote on this law took place during a stormy session of parliament that took place the day after the breakup of the ruling coalition.
It was prompted by the resignation, ordered by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, of his deputy, Jaroslaw Gowin, leader of one of the three parties in the coalition which had ten votes in Parliament.
On Wednesday, the ruling right lost a total of four votes, an unprecedented result since coming to power in 2015.
Demonstration in defense of press freedom, August 10, 2021 in Warsaw, Poland JANEK SKARZYNSKI AFP
Initially, the opposition succeeded in adjourning the session of Parliament until September 2.
However, the president of the Diet Elzbieta Witek decided to repeat this vote, under cries of protest from the opposition.
- 'Crooks, crooks' -
The vote was ultimately won by the ruling conservatives backed by a few deputies from an anti-system Kukiz 15 group, who in the first vote had supported the adjournment.
The results were greeted by the cries of “Crooks, crooks!” Launched by the opposition.
Members of the opposition, who questioned its legality, abstained from this vote.
The right-wing continued debates leading to the vote on the media law.
This is an important law for the populist Law and Justice (PiS) party and its chairman Jaroslaw Kaczynski who already controls public television TVP, which has become a government propaganda medium, and much of the regional press.
The "United Right" coalition, led by PiS, is regularly accused by the European Union of reducing democratic freedoms in the country.
On Tuesday evening thousands of people across Poland demonstrated against the media law.
- Stuck by the mud of corruption -
The collapse of the coalition does not mean that the government automatically falls because it would require a formal vote of no confidence in parliament.
The government could continue as a minority.
Observers say the results of Wednesday's votes show that PiS has a very uncertain majority and that it will have to negotiate with MPs from other parties, including the far right, before each vote.
"The parliamentary majority, stuck by the mud of corruption and blackmail, is collapsing before our eyes," wrote on Twitter former EU leader Donald Tusk, who heads the main opposition party Civic Platform ( PO).
"It may go on for some time yet, but it is no longer able to govern," he said.
© 2021 AFP