Former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki published a video on his profile on platform X, in which—responding to the shocking decision regarding the broadcast license for TV Republika—he directed strong words toward Donald Tusk. “What’s the matter, Tusk? Are you so afraid of everything you might hear that you resort to Lukashenko’s methods?” he asked.
On Wednesday, a court overturned the decision made by the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) concerning the broadcasting license, including that for TV Republika. The decision sparked outrage, not only within Poland but internationally as well.
Morawiecki addressed the matter on social media. On his X profile, he posted a video in which he issued a pointed critique of Donald Tusk.
“A government that fears free media turns to censorship,” he began, then continued with the question:
“What’s the matter, Tusk? Are you so afraid of everything you might hear that you resort to Lukashenko’s methods?”
Morawiecki emphasized that “TV Republika and WPolsce24 are two channels of freedom, two oases of freedom.”
“We will defend them, together with all Poles!”
he added.
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On June 21, 2024, the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) decided that TV Republika would receive one of two available slots on MUX-8 of the digital terrestrial television platform. The license was signed on July 3, and the station was assigned position 51 on the channel list.
The decision by KRRiT to grant a license to TV Republika was challenged by MWE Networks Group, the broadcaster of Polska24, which had lost the competition for the license.
The validity of the decision was questioned by one of the KRRiT members, Professor Tadeusz Kowalski, who argued that “there is a lack of sufficient information about the applicants.” KRRiT swiftly issued a statement asserting that “everything proceeded in accordance with the law,” and that the applications had been “thoroughly analyzed from both substantive and financial standpoints.”