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Polish protesters block parliament over press freedom Polish protesters block parliament over press freedom
(about 2 hours later)
Protesters have blockaded the Polish parliament in Warsaw in support of opposition MPs unhappy about rules restricting press reporting. Protesters have blockaded the Polish parliament in Warsaw in support of opposition MPs unhappy about new rules restricting press reporting.
The opposition objects to government plans to limit the number of journalists allowed to cover parliamentary proceedings. Police intervened to clear a path for government officials to leave by car after a late-night stand-off.
The MPs' protest delayed a budget vote, which was later held away from the main parliament chamber. Poland's populist right-wing government wants to limit the number of reporters allowed to cover parliament.
Hundreds of police surrounded protesters in a late-night stand-off. The MPs' protest delayed a vote on the budget, which was held later, away from the main chamber.
The opposition accused the government of passing next year's budget unlawfully earlier on Friday evening by transferring the key vote to a smaller hall and excluding the press.
It was the first time since the restoration of democracy in 1989 that such a vote was held outside the main chamber of parliament.
Enough MPs were present for the budget vote to be valid, according to the leader of the governing Law and Justice (PiS) party, Jaroslaw Kaczysnki, and other party members.
The opposition has demanded a rerun of the vote in the main parliament chamber next week.
"There is no proof that a quorum of lawmakers was present. We suspect that people who were not allowed to vote took part," said leader of the opposition Nowoczesna party Ryszard Petru.
Michal Szczerba, a MP from the opposition Civic Platform party, tweeted early on Saturday: "For the first time I have seen armed police at the parliament building."Michal Szczerba, a MP from the opposition Civic Platform party, tweeted early on Saturday: "For the first time I have seen armed police at the parliament building."
Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of the right-wing Law and Justice party (PiS), earlier denounced the protest as "hooliganism". Mr Kaczynski earlier denounced the protest as "hooliganism".
"We will not allow ourselves to be terrorised,'' he said."We will not allow ourselves to be terrorised,'' he said.
He left parliament with the PiS Prime Minister Beata Szydlo at about 03:00 (02:00 GMT).He left parliament with the PiS Prime Minister Beata Szydlo at about 03:00 (02:00 GMT).
Opposition MP Jerzy Meysztowicz told the TVN24 news channel that police used tear gas to clear a passage through protesters for their official vehicle.Opposition MP Jerzy Meysztowicz told the TVN24 news channel that police used tear gas to clear a passage through protesters for their official vehicle.
The opposition accused the government of passing next year's budget unlawfully earlier on Friday evening by transferring the key vote to a smaller hall and excluding the press. Police spokesman Maruisz Mrozek, quoted by Reuters, denied use of tear gas but said physical force was required to remove protesters.
It was the first since the restoration of democracy in 1989 that such a vote was held outside the main chamber of parliament. Most of the demonstrators have now left, but a new protest has been called for noon local time (11:00 GMT) outside the presidential palace.
Enough MPs were present for the budget vote to be valid, according to Mr Kaczynski and other PiS members, but the opposition demanded a rerun of the vote in the main parliament chamber next week.
"There is no proof that a quorum of lawmakers was present. We suspect that people who were not allowed to vote took part," said leader of the opposition Nowoczesna party Ryszard Petru.
Polish protesters block parliament
PiS has been accused of restricting press freedom since coming to power last year.PiS has been accused of restricting press freedom since coming to power last year.
Next year only a few reporters will be allowed into parliament. Next year only a few reporters will be allowed into parliament, with five selected TV stations permitted to make recordings of parliamentary sessions.
Only five selected Polish television stations will be permitted to make recordings of parliamentary sessions.
The government argues that it does not believe the measures are restrictive.
Supporters of the move argue it will stop MPs from being accosted by journalists inside the parliamentary building.
The demonstration on Friday began when an opposition MP held aloft a placard reading "free media".
He was told by Speaker Marek Kuchcinski, who is a PiS member, that he would no longer be allowed to attend parliamentary proceedings.
But by then other opposition MPs converged on the podium to demand press freedom and an end to censorship.
It is believed to be the first protest of its kind in the Polish parliament for 10 years.
The proposed new rules - due to be enforced next year - ban all recording of parliamentary sessions except by the five selected television stations. They also restrict the number of reporters permitted to enter the building.
"This restriction, first of all, does not hit journalists, but the rights of citizens to be fully informed about what people elected by them to the parliament do," a statement compiled by the country's largest independent news organisations said on Friday."This restriction, first of all, does not hit journalists, but the rights of citizens to be fully informed about what people elected by them to the parliament do," a statement compiled by the country's largest independent news organisations said on Friday.
TVN24 for its part broadcast the parliamentary disruption with an on-screen message informing viewers they would not be able to see such scenes once the new rules are in place on 1 January. The government argues that the measures are not restrictive and will stop MPs from being accosted by journalists inside the parliamentary building.
Human rights campaigners have also condemned the plans, with former dissident Seweryn Blumsztajn condemning them as a "return to communist-era practices". Opposition MPs began the protest inside parliament on Friday with one MP holding aloft a placard reading "free media".
He was told by Speaker Marek Kuchcinski, who is a PiS member, that he would no longer be allowed to attend parliamentary proceedings.
But other opposition MPs converged on the podium, in what is believed to be the first protest of its kind in the chamber for 10 years.