Polish government will seek to close pro-opposition TV

Significance

Law and Justice (PiS) has passed legislation through the Sejm, parliament’s lower chamber, which restricts the stakes companies outside the European Economic Area (EEA) may hold in Polish broadcasters. It is widely understood as aimed at private news channel TVN24, which is traditionally pro-Civic Platform (PO) and takes a stance largely critical of the current government.

Impacts

• The bill’s passage will weaken further Poland’s rule of law and discourage foreign investors from operating there.
• The bill will sour Polish-US relations, but the government does not consider this to be crucial.
• If PiS manages to close the most important private media, its next step will be to attack news and analysis published by independent NGOs.