Defense From East Influence
Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced yesterday the inclusion of TVN and Polsat in the list of strategical companies. The decision is to be formally approved by the Council of Ministers next week.
In translating his decision, the Prime Minister explained:
I have decided to amend the list of protected entities and their competent control authorities, the list of companies ... besides about TVN and Polsat tv stations. They will be included in the list of strategical companies which are protected, for example, from aggressive and dangerous for the interests of the Polish State to take over said Donald Tusk. Without the consent of the Polish government it will not be possible to take over, buy companies that are on this strategical list.
Tusk pointed out the serious risks associated with possible attempts to take over or influence the media in Poland by entities from the East. He stressed that TVN and Polsat would not be the first private companies covered by government protection, indicating that akin solutions be in another European countries. He besides assured that decisions in this case would be taken in a transparent manner, subject to possible complaints, while stressing his determination to counter interference by hostile states in public life, economy or electoral processes in Poland.
Roman Giertych is besides looking for another goal in the activities of the Prime Minister. As he writes:
There is another aspect of the Prime Minister's decision on TVN. Allowing money parked in the USA stolen by the Law and Justice to return to Poland as an investment in TVN would mean that all those journalists who for 8 years did not quit their independency would be on the street. Tusk acted decently due to the fact that without TVN there would be no triumph 15.10.2023. Our common, large Polish triumph over the influences of Russia.
Ambassador support
Donald Tusk's declaration was addressed by the US Ambassador to Poland. Brzezinski's entry seems to support the Prime Minister's decision:
Media pluralism is the foundation of democracy. I know how much Poles value access to free and diverse media. In view of the global challenges of alien harmful interference, it is crucial that governments take action to defend their strategical infrastructure from possible threats to national security.
Photo XPerturbations with station sales
For respective years now there have been reports of the intention to sale the Polish media giant by Warner Bros. Discovery. The situation escalated during TVN's conflict with the National Broadcasting Council, erstwhile this one, for the erstwhile power, waited until the last minute to extend the concession to a private broadcaster station. It was already speculated that the American owner might be looking for a anticipation to sale TVN. Another reason was financial problems.
There were many theories about what the buyer would yet prove to be. In the sub-cast “Stan Exceptional” of the Onet portal writer Andrzej Stankiewicz revealed that TVN sales are almost doomed. According to his information, the Polish broadcaster is to be taken over by the Hungarian fund associated with Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Stankiewicz noted that specified developments correspond to the expectations of politicians of the erstwhile power in Poland, and any members of the Law and Justice expressed satisfaction about this. According to his knowledge, the transaction is at an advanced phase of completion. According to these reports, if specified a script were carried out, then Daniel Obietek would be acting as the station president.
The movement from the Prime Minister is seemingly intended to counter the anticipation of dealing with things in this way. PiS politicians are already criticizing Tusk for this move.
Photo XRadosław Fogiel openly writes on X that:
Donald Tusk at 1 time had no objections to Lotos buying Russians, but TVN would list companies of strategical importance. In fact, it's a strategical issue for the PO...
