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Poland defends its new media law as fair amid EU concerns Poland defends its new media law as fair amid EU concerns
(about 2 hours later)
WARSAW, Poland — Poland has defended its new media law as fair, voicing surprise at the European Union’s negative reaction to the legislation. WARSAW, Poland — Poland on Sunday defended its new media law as fair, voicing surprise at the European Union’s negative reaction to the legislation.
Last week, Polish lawmakers approved legislation that ends the terms of the current heads of state-run radio and television, and gives the government authority to make new appointments. The president is expected to sign it into law soon. Last week, Polish lawmakers approved legislation by the new ruling party that ends the terms of the current heads of state-run radio and television, who were appointed by the previous establishment. The new law also gives the government the authority to make new appointments.
European Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said in remarks published Sunday that he was concerned about media independence in Poland and would like the EU member to be put under a monitoring mechanism. President Andrzej Duda is expected to sign it into law soon, as the ruling conservative Law and Justice party is rushing to make major state and social reforms.
Marek Magierowski, the spokesman for Polish President Andrzej Duda, said the changes were necessary, because for years under the previous government, state broadcasters were “one-party media” with no pluralism, a fact that was ignored by the EU. European Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said in remarks published Sunday in the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung that he was concerned about media independence in Poland and would like the EU member to be put under a monitoring mechanism.
Hours later, the European Commission said it would debate the rule of law in Poland at its Jan. 13 session, out of concern over the media legislation. It wasn’t immediately clear what steps the commission could take next.
Duda’s spokesman, Marek Magierowski, said the changes in the legislation were necessary, because for eight years under the previous government, state broadcasters were “deeply one-party media” with “not a penny’s worth of pluralism” and “not a single EU commissioner or EU lawmaker expressed any concern over the fact.”
Four directors of state TV resigned last week in protest of the new law, while state radio is airing the EU and Polish national anthems before news broadcasts to stress attachment to EU values.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.