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Why Poland’s public media is being put into liquidation
Culture minister Bartlomiej Sienkiewicz has announced that the public TV, radio and news agency has been put into liquidation
The logo of TVP Telewizja Polska SA, Polish state television and media outlet, is seen on the roof of the company's building, as the city skyline is seen in the distance in Warsaw, Poland, September 25, 2023. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/files
The move however does not mean public broadcasters will be dissolved.
The decision which affects media outlets such as, telewizja Polska SA, Polskie Radio SA, and Polska Agencja Prasowa SA. was made due to the suspension of funding for public media by president Andrzej Duda.
In a social media post on Wednesday, Culture Minister Bartlomiej Sienkiewicz stated that, “Due to the decision of the President of the Republic of Poland to suspend financing of public media, I decided to put into liquidation the companies Telewizja Polska SA, Polskie Radio SA and Polska Agencja Prasowa SA.
Sienkiewicz explained that the move to liquify these media houses would safeguard workers’ jobs and facilitate restructuring during political disputes resulting in the deprivation of funds.
The aim of the government is to free the state media who critics have claimed became mouthpieces for the nationalist Law and Justice party (PiS) and its allies during their eight-year rule.
The liquidation announcement has caused a political turmoil between the newly-elected government and PiS with PiS representatives accusing Tusk’s government of destroying Polish media.
Tusk, who said that the “actions are in line with the law” maintains his decision to ensure that the state-run media operates in a politically neutral environment.
