Poland's govt dismisses state media bosses

Poland's new pro-European Union government launched reforms of state media entities on Wednesday, which involved the firing of management and sparked protests from right-wing lawmakers, leading to interruptions in public broadcasts.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk's newly-formed Cabinet, which took office last week, dismissed the directors of state television and radio outlets, as well as the government-run news agency, saying its aim was to establish independent media in Poland in a manner that is legally binding and enduring.

The overhaul comes a week after Tusk took power and after eight years of rule by the right-wing Law and Justice Party, or PiS.

In a statement, PiS politicians decried the media reshuffle, saying the actions of the new government were "illegal" and that the changes were executed "unlawfully".

State-owned media outlets under the previous PiS administration were regularly accused of biased reporting, transmitting government propaganda, launching verbal attacks on Tusk and the opposition, and spreading its eurosceptic views, reported Euronews.

On Tuesday, lawmakers in Poland's Parliament adopted a resolution presented by Tusk's government, which called for the restoration of "legal order, objectivity, fairness, impartiality, and reliability" of state-owned media.

The Culture Ministry, in a statement on Wednesday, announced the removal of the chairmen and boards of the state-owned television, radio and news agency in a bid to restore the "impartiality" of public media.

Following the announcement, state-owned news channel TVP's regular broadcast was suspended, leaving only the TV logo visible on screens, and the website of TVP Info news channel went offline, reported AFP.

The government's action prompted PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, along with top party figures and many right-wing lawmakers, to occupy buildings that house the offices and studios of state-run television TVP, in protest.

When it was in power, the Law and Justice government had "actively sought to discredit and eliminate the TVN station that was highly critical of it", said Euronews.

In a social media post, the country's president, Andrzej Duda, who is an ally of PiS politicians, gave his opinion, urging the government to "respect Poland's legal order".

Tusk quickly replied to the post, saying: "As I already informed you, today's actions are — in accordance with your intention — aimed at restoring legal order and common decency in public life. You can count on our iron determination on this matter."