Maciej Świrski, who chairs the state media regulator National Broadcasting Council (KRRiTV), has told independent TV Republika that the present liberal government is making state television (TVP) “unwatchable” and that this is all part of a process of “putting Poland in a state of liquidation.”
Świrski has been threatened by the outgoing culture minister, Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz, with an indictment before the Tribunal of State for breaching his powers in withholding license fee payments from TVP and Polish Radio. The KRRiTV chairman said he wasn’t surprised by such a move from the ministry because as a historian, he understands that “all tyrants and totalitarians always communicate their messages and act upon them.”
Świrski said he believes that the Tusk government has put TVP and Poland in a state of liquidation.
“Public television is being liquidated, as are our key investment projects, the constitution has ceased to work, we have total lawlessness and can expect the worst from our executive powers,” he said.
He argues that KRRiTV is a body like the Supreme Audit Office (NIK) and the Ombudsman, in the sense that its job is to stand guard for the public interest and provide supervision of the government and that KRRiTV’s powers and operations are delivered through the constitution.
Świrski noted that he is to be put on trial in front of the Tribunal of State in order to intimidate KRRiTV and stop it from regulating the media market. He says the goal is to ensure that commercial interests close to the present government can have free rein.
He also feels that the present government is keen to stop the rapid expansion of the audiences of TV Republika, the station seeking to be available on the main terrestrial digital platform and not just on cable and the net. He was pleased to see that viewers and advertisers were voting with their feet and switching to TV Republika.
Świrski added that he is proud to be ”in good company,” such as with the head of the central bank Adam Glapiński, Conservatives (PiS) leader Jarosław Kaczyński, President Andrzej Duda and former Culture Minister Piotr Gliński, who all are being threatened by left-liberal coalition with action before the Tribunal of State.
As for his views on the present performance of TVP, he called it “unwatchable” and argued that there is no point in having state television ape other commercial channels and that in doing so, TVP was making it easier for alternative channels to prosper.
