Thousands of opponents of the new Polish government on Saturday held protests in Warsaw and other cities against policies which they said threaten democracy and media freedom.
The street protests were organized by the Committee for the Protection of Democracy that rallied tens of thousands of Poles last month against the ruling Law and Justice party. This time, thousands of people waving national white-and-red flags and EU flags joined in the capital, as well as in the cities of Wroclaw, Krakow, Katowice, Lodz and elsewhere. They chanted “Free Poland, free media” and “Stop spoiling democracy.” Some had lips sealed with tape, to suggest freedom of speech was threatened.
The protesters said that changes that the government made to bring a constitutional court and state broadcasters under the control of the ruling Law and Justice party threaten media freedom and democracy.
The new media law took effect on Friday, cutting short the terms of the state radio and television heads and transferring the authority to appoint successors to the Polish Minister of State Treasury, from a separate media commission that reports to the parliament. The minister immediately appointed former European Parliament member Jacek Kurski to general director of the state Television.
Last month, the parliament changed legislation concerning the appointment of judges to the Polish Constitutional Tribunal.
The moves have also alarmed some EU leaders and the European Commission is expected to debate Poland’s rule of law on Wednesday.
The Polish government, which took power in November, argues it needs to reform some state bodies because they represent only the interests of the previous ruling government.
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