The Polish parliament’s decision to refer Maciej Świrski, Chairman of the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT), to the State Tribunal has sparked a sharp reaction from KRRiT, which condemns the move as a politically motivated attack against a constitutional body.
“We consider the Sejm’s decision to refer Chairman Maciej Świrski to the State Tribunal as a politically motivated attack on a constitutional institution,” the council stated emphatically. KRRiT, responsible for safeguarding media order and the right to information in Poland, asserts that it is one of the few institutions functioning independently of government influence, guided solely by legal provisions.
This referral, initiated by MPs from the ruling coalition, has been criticized by KRRiT as a breach of the principles underpinning a democratic state governed by the rule of law. “This action undermines the autonomy essential for the Council’s impartial operations,” the statement further noted.
The council, whose current members alongside Chairman Świrski include Agnieszka Glapiak, Hanna Karp, and Marzena Paczuska, insists that the referral is not grounded in legitimate concerns but rather in political maneuvering aimed at weakening an institution crucial for media freedom and oversight.
It is expected that this confrontation may deepen existing tensions between the ruling coalition and media oversight bodies, raising questions about the broader implications for media independence and democratic accountability in Poland.