Poland's Culture Ministry announced the suspension of a public news channel on Wednesday (Dec 20), along with the removal of executives from state media, citing the need to restore "impartiality" as a cornerstone of new Prime Minister Donald Tusk's reform agenda.

With this, a war of words has erupted between Tusk's Civic Platform, the largest party in the ruling government, and the Law and Justice (PiS) party, as the new government took decisive action to reform the media landscape in the country that has been touted as a mouthpiece for PiS.&nbsp;

Donald Tusk's return to power after nine years, securing parliamentary support for his government, is seeing a political shift.&nbsp;Tusk's reform plans encountered immediate resistance from the PiS, as dismissals at state television (TVP), radio, and news agency PAP unfolded in the wake of a parliamentary resolution calling for the restoration of public media impartiality.

PiS strongly criticised the moves, with some politicians appearing at state broadcaster TVP headquarters, prompting police intervention.

Protesters also gathered outside TVP offices in various cities.

Tusk is a former European Council president who served in the position from 2014 to 2019. His pro-European Union coalition replaced the nationalist PiS party, which critics argue had undermined judicial independence and exploited state-owned media for propaganda during its eight-year tenure.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazils-first-lady-janja-elon-musk-lock-horns-after-hacker-posts-lewd-images-and-insults-on-x-671999">Brazil's first lady Janja, Elon Musk lock horns after hacker posts lewd images and insults on X</a>

The state-run 24-hour news channel TVP Info, known for its criticism of Tusk, was taken off air. Reacting to this, Civic Platform said on the social media platform, "The end of TVPiS."

<h2>Tusk pledges balanced media&nbsp;</h2>

The government pledged to establish stations with a more balanced approach to public service broadcasting.

Supporters of TVP Info argued that shutting it down would diminish pluralism by silencing a conservative voice aligned with PiS's stance on EU migration debates.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-insists-he-hasnt-read-hitlers-mein-kampf-after-backlash-on-remarks-against-migrants-671963">Trump insists he hasn’t read Hitler’s ‘Mein Kampf’ after backlash on remarks against migrants</a>

Critics, including Tusk's predecessor Mateusz Morawiecki, deemed the management dismissals a takeover and illegal.

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-unsc-again-delays-vote-on-resolution-calling-for-more-humanitarian-aid-to-gaza-671996">Israel-Hamas war: UNSC again delays vote on resolution calling for more humanitarian aid to Gaza</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-unsc-again-delays-vote-on-resolution-calling-for-more-humanitarian-aid-to-gaza-671996/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Amid the turmoil, Poland's President Andrzej Duda called on the government to respect the law and to keep politics aside.

(With inputs from agencies)

Poland's Culture Ministry announced the suspension of a public news channel on Wednesday (Dec 20), along with the removal of executives from state media, citing the need to restore "impartiality" as a cornerstone of new Prime Minister Donald Tusk's reform agenda.

Poland's Culture Ministry announced the suspension of a public news channel on Wednesday (Dec 20), along with the removal of executives from state media, citing the need to restore "impartiality" as a cornerstone of new Prime Minister Donald Tusk's reform agenda. With this, a war of words has erupted between Tusk's Civic Platform, the largest party in the ruling government, and the Law and Justice (PiS) party, as the new government took decisive action to reform the media landscape in the country that has been touted as a mouthpiece for PiS. Donald Tusk's return to power after nine years, securing parliamentary support for his government, is seeing a political shift. Tusk's reform plans encountered immediate resistance from the PiS, as dismissals at state television (TVP), radio, and news agency PAP unfolded in the wake of a parliamentary resolution calling for the restoration of public media impartiality. PiS strongly criticised the moves, with some politicians appearing at state broadcaster TVP headquarters, prompting police intervention. Protesters also gathered outside TVP offices in various cities. Tusk is a former European Council president who served in the position from 2014 to 2019. His pro-European Union coalition replaced the nationalist PiS party, which critics argue had undermined judicial independence and exploited state-owned media for propaganda during its eight-year tenure. Also Read | Brazil's first lady Janja, Elon Musk lock horns after hacker posts lewd images and insults on X The state-run 24-hour news channel TVP Info, known for its criticism of Tusk, was taken off air. Reacting to this, Civic Platform said on the social media platform, "The end of TVPiS." Tusk pledges balanced media The government pledged to establish stations with a more balanced approach to public service broadcasting. Supporters of TVP Info argued that shutting it down would diminish pluralism by silencing a conservative voice aligned with PiS's stance on EU migration debates. Also Read | Trump insists he hasn’t read Hitler’s ‘Mein Kampf’ after backlash on remarks against migrants Critics, including Tusk's predecessor Mateusz Morawiecki, deemed the management dismissals a takeover and illegal. Watch | Israel-Hamas war: UNSC again delays vote on resolution calling for more humanitarian aid to Gaza × Amid the turmoil, Poland's President Andrzej Duda called on the government to respect the law and to keep politics aside. (With inputs from agencies)

Tusk govt takes Poland state TV off air, PiS criticises 'Impartiality' push

&nbsp;The Polish opposition secured the post of Senate speaker in a parliamentary vote on Tuesday seen as a test of its ability to retain control of the upper house after winning it in an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/polands-ruling-nationalists-win-majority-in-parliament-255794">October&nbsp;13 general election</a>.

The loss of the Senate was a blow to the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party because that could delay some of its legislative ambitions. These include further changes to the justice system, which have concerned the European Union.

Since the election, Polish media have reported that PiS had made overtures to opposition senators in an attempt to establish a working majority.

In Tuesday's vote for speaker, the opposition candidate, centrist Civic Platform's (PO) senator Tomasz Grodzki, a 61-year-old surgeon, won 51 votes, while the PiS' candidate Stanislaw Karczewski received 48 votes in the 100-member Senate. One lawmaker refrained from voting.

"This is a victory of democracy," Grodzki told the Senate.

During its first term in power PiS, accused by the EU of subverting the rule of law, gained a reputation for pushing through bills at breakneck speed, with hastily called late-night lower house sittings followed by quick approval from the Senate.

"Taking over the Senate means very severe strengthening of the opposition. For the PiS every vote lost in the Senate is an image loss," said Warsaw University sociologist Jacek Haman.

The Polish opposition secured the post of Senate speaker in a parliamentary vote on Tuesday seen as a test of its ability to retain control of the upper house after winning it in an October 13 general election.

The Polish opposition secured the post of Senate speaker in a parliamentary vote on Tuesday seen as a test of its ability to retain control of the upper house after winning it in an October 13 general election. The loss of the Senate was a blow to the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party because that could delay some of its legislative ambitions. These include further changes to the justice system, which have concerned the European Union. Since the election, Polish media have reported that PiS had made overtures to opposition senators in an attempt to establish a working majority. In Tuesday's vote for speaker, the opposition candidate, centrist Civic Platform's (PO) senator Tomasz Grodzki, a 61-year-old surgeon, won 51 votes, while the PiS' candidate Stanislaw Karczewski received 48 votes in the 100-member Senate. One lawmaker refrained from voting. "This is a victory of democracy," Grodzki told the Senate. During its first term in power PiS, accused by the EU of subverting the rule of law, gained a reputation for pushing through bills at breakneck speed, with hastily called late-night lower house sittings followed by quick approval from the Senate. "Taking over the Senate means very severe strengthening of the opposition. For the PiS every vote lost in the Senate is an image loss," said Warsaw University sociologist Jacek Haman.

Poland's opposition wins speaker seat in upper house of parliament

Tens of thousands of Poles took part in a far-right march in the capital Warsaw on Monday to mark Polish independence, an annual event that has become a focus of friction between nationalists and liberals.

Some chanted "God, honour, homeland!" and "No to the European Union!" and waved red-and-white Polish flags. Others lit red flares, blanketing sections of the parade with smoke.

"We have to return to our roots. Our world has abandoned God and Christianity," Robert Bakiewicz, head of a group organising the march, told participants in central Warsaw. "We will die as the nations of western Europe are dying."

A small group of hardline Italian far-right group Forza Nuova members also took part, waving flags.

Poland has become increasingly polarised since the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party came to power in 2015, calling for a revival of patriotic and Roman Catholic values in public life and a rejection of Western liberalism.

Critics say PiS, which won a second term last month with 44 per cent&nbsp;of the vote, has tacitly encouraged groups with roots in the fascist and anti-Semitic movements of the 1930s that organised the march, although the party denies this.

Last year, on the centenary of Polish independence, government officials and President Andrzej Duda, an ally of the PiS, agreed to hold a joint event with the annual march organisers, but walked at a distance, away from any overt displays of nationalism.

This year, PiS held its own, separate events.

"Our nation has a mission and it has to fulfil it," PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski said on Sunday. "Our mission is to sustain everything that's a foundation of our Christian civilisation.

"We will walk this path, and if it's done in a thoughtful way, it will bring us to victory."

On November&nbsp;11, Poles commemorate the establishment in 1918 of the second Polish Republic, created after World War One from parts of what was then Russia, Germany and Austria.

Two years ago, the march was dotted with racist banners, some of them reading "Pure blood, clear mind" or "Europe will be white or uninhabited".

Before PiS came to power, scuffles between participants and police were not uncommon, but in recent years, more families with children have joined.

On Monday, some wore stickers saying "Stop 447", in a protest against a US&nbsp;law on the restitution of Jewish property seized during or after World War Two, an issue increasingly featuring in public debate in Poland.

The US&nbsp;Department of State is expected to provide a nonbinding report to Congress later this year on property restitution, under legislation known as the Justice for Uncompensated Survivors Today (JUST) Act, or Act 447.

Poland was home to one of the world's biggest Jewish communities before it was almost entirely wiped out by Nazi German occupiers who set up death camps such as Auschwitz on Polish soil.

Another far-right march, in the southwestern city of Wroclaw, was ended by city authorities due to racist remarks 25 minutes after it had begun.

"The march was dissolved (...) due to hate-speech (anti-Semitism) and the use of pyrotechnics," the vice-president of the Wroclaw City Council, Bartlomiej Ciazynski, wrote on Facebook, adding that several hundred people took part in the march.

According to Poland's state news agency PAP, the police used water cannons to disperse the participants of the march.

Tens of thousands of Poles took part in a far-right march in the capital Warsaw on Monday to mark Polish independence, an annual event that has become a focus of friction between nationalists and liberals.

Tens of thousands of Poles took part in a far-right march in the capital Warsaw on Monday to mark Polish independence, an annual event that has become a focus of friction between nationalists and liberals. Some chanted "God, honour, homeland!" and "No to the European Union!" and waved red-and-white Polish flags. Others lit red flares, blanketing sections of the parade with smoke. "We have to return to our roots. Our world has abandoned God and Christianity," Robert Bakiewicz, head of a group organising the march, told participants in central Warsaw. "We will die as the nations of western Europe are dying." A small group of hardline Italian far-right group Forza Nuova members also took part, waving flags. Poland has become increasingly polarised since the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party came to power in 2015, calling for a revival of patriotic and Roman Catholic values in public life and a rejection of Western liberalism. Critics say PiS, which won a second term last month with 44 per cent of the vote, has tacitly encouraged groups with roots in the fascist and anti-Semitic movements of the 1930s that organised the march, although the party denies this. Last year, on the centenary of Polish independence, government officials and President Andrzej Duda, an ally of the PiS, agreed to hold a joint event with the annual march organisers, but walked at a distance, away from any overt displays of nationalism. This year, PiS held its own, separate events. "Our nation has a mission and it has to fulfil it," PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski said on Sunday. "Our mission is to sustain everything that's a foundation of our Christian civilisation. "We will walk this path, and if it's done in a thoughtful way, it will bring us to victory." On November 11, Poles commemorate the establishment in 1918 of the second Polish Republic, created after World War One from parts of what was then Russia, Germany and Austria. Two years ago, the march was dotted with racist banners, some of them reading "Pure blood, clear mind" or "Europe will be white or uninhabited". Before PiS came to power, scuffles between participants and police were not uncommon, but in recent years, more families with children have joined. On Monday, some wore stickers saying "Stop 447", in a protest against a US law on the restitution of Jewish property seized during or after World War Two, an issue increasingly featuring in public debate in Poland. The US Department of State is expected to provide a nonbinding report to Congress later this year on property restitution, under legislation known as the Justice for Uncompensated Survivors Today (JUST) Act, or Act 447. Poland was home to one of the world's biggest Jewish communities before it was almost entirely wiped out by Nazi German occupiers who set up death camps such as Auschwitz on Polish soil. Another far-right march, in the southwestern city of Wroclaw, was ended by city authorities due to racist remarks 25 minutes after it had begun. "The march was dissolved (...) due to hate-speech (anti-Semitism) and the use of pyrotechnics," the vice-president of the Wroclaw City Council, Bartlomiej Ciazynski, wrote on Facebook, adding that several hundred people took part in the march. According to Poland's state news agency PAP, the police used water cannons to disperse the participants of the march.

Polish far-right groups march on independence anniversary

Pis, News on Pis, stories on Pis, articles on Pis, Pis stories at Wion, Pis news, Pis latest news

pis

Tusk govt takes Poland state TV off air, PiS criticises 'Impartiality' push

Poland's opposition wins speaker seat in upper house of parliament

Polish far-right groups march on independence anniversary