Poles protest right-wing government policies
Thousands of people have taken to the streets across Poland in protest against the new right-wing government, saying its policies threaten democracy and media freedom.
Anti-government demonstrations were held on Saturday in the capital, Warsaw, and in the cities of Wroclaw, Krakow, Katowice, and Lodz. Similar protests were also reported elsewhere.
The demonstrators waved national and European Union flags and chanted, Free Poland, Free Media, and, Stop Spoiling Democracy. Some even sealed their lips with tape, to highlight threats posed to freedom of speech in the EU member state.
The demonstrators were angry at the new administration’s move to bring a constitutional court and state broadcasters under the control of the ruling Law and Justice Party, arguing that it threatens media freedom and democracy.
Based on the new media law that came into effect on Friday, the terms of the state radio and television heads have been cut short while the authority to appoint successors is transferred to the treasury minister. A separate media commission that reports to the parliament was responsible for choosing the heads before.
Right-wing politician and journalist Jacek Kurski was immediately appointed to head the state television after the change.
In a separate move, the parliament recently altered legislation about the appointment of judges to the Constitutional Tribunal, which is a top court.
The change has raised concern among some leaders in the EU and the European Commission is set to debate Poland’s rule of law later this month.
Poland’s new government, which came to power in November 2015, says some state bodies must be reformed as they represent only the interests of the previous administration.
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