Poles have staged nationwide protests, including a gathering of thousands outside the presidential palace, demanding that heads of state veto a law that they believe would restrict media freedom in the largest eastern member of the European Union.
Unexpectedly, the parliament was hurriedly passed on Friday, and the legislation will Tighten regulations on foreign media ownership, Especially affecting the operating capabilities of TVN24, a news channel owned by the American media company Discovery Inc.
The bill has not yet been signed into law by President Andrzej Duda. At a time when tensions in Eastern Europe have increased, some countries believe that Russia is more confident. The bill has worsened relations between NATO member Poland and the United States.
Since the state-owned oil company PKN Orlen last year said it would take over a German-owned regional newspaper publisher, this has also added to wider concerns about attacks on media freedom.
“This is not just a channel,” Warsaw Mayor and former presidential candidate Rafal Trzaskowski told the crowd on Sunday. “For a while [there will be] Censoring the Internet, trying to eliminate all independent sources of information-but we will not allow this to happen. “
During a demonstration outside the presidential palace, 38-year-old Emilia Zlotinska told AFP: “We need freedom of speech. I hope the president will not sign.”
TVN24 footage shows protesters in Warsaw waving Polish and European Union flags and chanting “free media.”
“We must be here today because free media is the backbone of democracy,” said Bettalasiak, a member of the crowd, a professor of sociology.
Demonstrations took place all over the country. Pictures from the southern city of Krakow show protesters waving labels marked “Hands off TVN” and “Free Poland, Free people, free media”.
The channel said that as of 8:20 pm local time, more than 1.5 million people had signed a petition to defend TVN24.
The ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has long stated that foreign media groups have too much power in the country and distort public debates.
Critics say Take action against foreign media groups It is part of an increasingly authoritarian agenda that has brought Warsaw and Brussels into a dispute over LGBT rights and judicial reform.
Last week, the US State Department called on Duda to protect freedom of speech, freedom of economic activity, property rights and equal treatment.
State Department spokesperson Ned Price said: “The United States is deeply disturbed by a law passed by Poland today that will undermine freedom of speech, weaken media freedom, and weaken foreign investors’ confidence in their property rights and the sanctity of Polish contracts. .”in a statement on Friday.
The European Commission stated that the new law sends another negative signal about Poland’s respect for the rule of law and democratic values.
“Once the bill becomes law, the committee will take action without hesitation without complying with EU law,” said Vera Churova, the vice chairman of the committee, in a statement.
Reuters and AFP contributed to this report
