Poland's new government fires dozens of media executives

Shortly after the announcement by the Polish Ministry of Culture, regular broadcasts of state television channel TVP were suspended, with only the channel's logo displayed on TV screens. TVP's website also went down.

The reshuffle comes a week after Prime Minister Donald Tusk took office and after eight years of rule by the Law and Justice (PiS) party. On December 19, the Polish government passed a resolution calling for the restoration of “impartiality and credibility of the mass media.”

AFP news agency (France) reported that PiS politicians denounced the media reform as "illegal", while President Andrzej Duda called on the government to "respect Poland's legal order".

On December 20, President Andrzej Duda wrote on social network X, formerly Twitter: “Regarding today's move by the Ministry of Culture regarding mass media, I call on Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the cabinet to respect the Polish legal order.”

Prime Minister Tusk immediately posted on social network X: "As I have already announced, today's action is aimed at restoring legal order and common decency in public life. You can count on our iron determination on this matter."

On December 20, AFP reporters also observed police entering the headquarters of TVP television channel.

On December 13, new Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his government ministers were sworn in before President Andrzej Duda.

The new government has begun to reverse the policies of its predecessor, which many saw as divisive. On December 19, Prime Minister Tusk appointed new heads of the security, intelligence and anti-corruption agencies.