Tusk's Polish reforms spark opposition sit-in at state broadcaster TVP

Members of Poland’s opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, unhappy with the new coalition government’s efforts to depoliticize public media, have taken over the headquarters of the state TV company, TVP. About 100 PiS MPs chose a sit-in protest at TVP instead of participating in a parliamentary resolution on Tuesday night advocating for independence, objectivity, and pluralism in public TV. PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski joined the protest, pledging its continuation with teams of MPs operating in shifts. The new culture minister responded by dismissing the current heads of TVP, Polish Radio, and the state news agency PAP, appointing new management boards.

The PiS-led government, in power since 2015, had significantly influenced TVP’s narrative, changing Poland’s media law and media regulator to align with its policies. The new pro-EU government, led by Donald Tusk, has swiftly moved to overturn PiS reforms and replace appointees. State media plays a crucial role in Poland, with about a third relying solely on it for news. The opposition’s protest is seen as an attempt to maintain influence over TVP, regarded as a conservative bulwark against the current coalition government.

The coalition government, under Tusk, plans changes in TVP personnel, focusing on up to 60 employees violating journalistic standards, according to reports. However, resistance may come from President Duda, a PiS ally, who has the power to veto legislation and insists on changes being in line with the law. The ongoing developments underscore the continuing tug-of-war over media influence in Polish politics.