During his mission to Warsaw from October 2 to 5, the head of RSF’s EU-Balkans bureau, Pavol Szalai, discussed the recommendations – aimed at strengthening the independence of public and private media and the protection of journalists against legal and physical threats – with the main media and political parties. In response to RSF’s call, an influential member of the Law and Justice Parliament (PiS), also a member of the National Media Council (another media authority), took action. “Malicious prosecution (SLAPP) is an existing problem for press freedom in Poland. Joanna Lichocka agreed. “I am against prison sentences handed down to journalists for defamation. I will advocate within PiS for legislation decriminalizing defamation.” » promised the candidate of the ruling party.
During a meeting with RSF, a figure from the opposition Civic Coalition, Adam Bodnar, declared: “Polish public media and monitoring institutions need systemic reform that guarantees their independence from the government.” The former mediator added: “Political influence in the selection of public media leaders should be reduced in favor of the participation of civil society and experts. »
The organization also discussed its proposals with opposition leaders from the centrist Poland 2050 coalition and the Left party, both of whom have shown willingness to carry out reforms on media freedom if they enter government .
RSF’s recommendations –written in cooperation with Polish experts and addressed to the future government – aim for in-depth and widely consulted reform of public media, fair conditions of competition on the market and in terms of access to information for private and public media, measures against abusive prosecutions, as well as guarantees of freedom journalists. security and rights.
Out of 180 countries listed by RSF World press freedom rankingsPoland is ranked 57th, which is the fifth worst place in the European Union.