“Republika represents the views and interests of a vast number of citizens who do not see themselves reflected in any other media. Under these circumstances, taking away this station’s license is a violation of the principle of pluralism, which must prevail in a democratic state,” said Dr. Jolanta Hajdasz, President of the Polish Journalists’ Association (SDP), commenting on the decision of the Voivodeship Administrative Court (WSA) to overturn the National Broadcasting Council’s (KRRiT) ruling. She added that the SDP will notify all European institutions responsible for monitoring media pluralism and independence about this development.
Destroy free media
Earlier today, the WSA overturned the National Broadcasting Council’s June 21, 2024 decision—which had allocated a multiplex slot to TV Republika and wPolsce24—and ruled in favor of the appeal filed by MWE Networks, the broadcaster of Polska24. The court also ordered the Council to reimburse the plaintiff for costs incurred in the proceedings.
In her oral justification, Judge Barbara Kołodziejczak-Osetek stated that there had been an “incorrect assessment of the applications” and questioned the “grounds cited by the [National Broadcasting Council],” referring to them as “loosely invoked pluralism” and a “loosely invoked social interest of only certain entities.” The ruling is not final.
We stand with our colleagues from Republika
Commenting on the WSA ruling, SDP President Jolanta Hajdasz stressed that in her view, the court’s decision is “scandalous, incomprehensible, and shocking.”
“This verdict is an attack on freedom of speech in Poland. It reflects a completely incomprehensible situation, in which legally operating broadcasters—who have held a license for months—are now being deprived of the right to broadcast their television programs,”
Hajdasz said, noting the broader context of the ruling.
“Telewizja Republika today expresses opinions you won’t find in mainstream or public media. It represents the views and interests of a vast number of citizens who do not identify with any other media. Stripping the station of its license is a breach of the principle of pluralism, which must be upheld in a democratic state. And that is exactly what we are dealing with today,”
she continued.
According to the head of the SDP, the ruling “can only be criticized.”
“And if it comes at such a critical moment—in a period of enormous political polarization—then I can’t find any explanation for it other than political motivation,”
she observed.
Hajdasz pledged “the full support of the community linked with the Polish Journalists’ Association.”
“The SDP Press Freedom Monitoring Center will issue a very strong statement on this matter today. We stand with our colleagues from Republika and will fight alongside them for freedom of speech and pluralism in the media. There is no other way,”
she declared.
She added that the SDP will notify all European institutions that monitor media pluralism and independence in the European Union about the situation.