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Polish state TV host decries past anti-LGBT output

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A journalist working for Poland’s state broadcaster has publicly expressed remorse for the channel’s complicity in disseminating anti-LGBT sentiment. Wojciech Szelag, the host of TVP Info, acknowledged the channel’s role in perpetuating hateful rhetoric against the LGBT community over the course of several years. He recognized that LGBT individuals had been subjected to derogatory language and discrimination, emphasizing that they are not merely an abstract ideology but are people with specific identities, relationships, and experiences.

During the Guest of the Evening show, Szelag offered a heartfelt apology to two LGBT activists, Bart Staszewski and Maja Heban. He emphasized the importance of acknowledging the humanity of LGBT individuals, expressing regret for the hurtful language and narratives propagated by TVP Info. Staszewski, deeply moved by the apology, highlighted the significant impact of the channel’s previous actions on the lives of LGBT people in Poland.

Under the previous government led by the Law and Justice (PiS) party, TVP Info frequently broadcast content that vilified the LGBT community. PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski and his allies, including President Andrzej Duda, often condemned expressions of LGBT identity and promoted discriminatory rhetoric. However, since the new Prime Minister Donald Tusk assumed office, changes have been made to the broadcaster in an effort to depoliticize state media and promote more inclusive narratives.

The recent apology from TVP Info’s host reflects a broader shift in Poland’s media landscape, as the country grapples with issues of discrimination and intolerance. While the apology signifies a step towards acknowledging past wrongs, there is still much work to be done in fostering greater acceptance and understanding of the LGBT community in Polish society.

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Polish state TVP Info channel off air as Tusk reforms kick in

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The Polish state TV channel TVP Info has been taken off the air as part of Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government efforts to depoliticize public media. The move follows a parliamentary resolution calling for independence, objectivity, and pluralism in public TV and radio.

The heads of TVP and Polish Radio have been dismissed by the new culture minister. The Law and Justice (PiS) party, which lost power in October, staged a sit-in at state TV HQ in protest. State media is crucial in Poland, with about a third of people relying solely on it for news. TVP had become a propaganda tool for the previous PiS government. The new coalition, led by pro-EU Prime Minister Donald Tusk, aims to transform state media into a platform for reliable information.

The former PiS prime minister and President Andrzej Duda criticized the government’s actions, accusing it of violating constitutional principles and the law. The Tusk-led coalition won elections in October on a promise to overturn PiS reforms. PiS had exerted extensive control over TVP’s narrative, changing media laws and appointing sympathetic journalists. The Tusk government is swiftly removing PiS appointees from government bodies.

The dismissals have faced criticism, with the National Broadcasting Council stating they are illegal. The media regulator claims turning off TVP Info is an act of lawlessness reminiscent of martial law. PiS argues that the parliamentary resolution does not grant the power to sack management boards. However, the culture minister asserts ownership rights over state companies, justifying the authority to make changes.

The Tusk government may encounter resistance, as President Duda has the power to veto legislation and has called for respect for the Polish legal order. The coalition government plans changes to TVP personnel by Christmas, targeting up to 60 employees who violated journalistic standards.

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Poland election: Tusk’s opposition eyes power after pivotal vote

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In Poland’s recent general election, the opposition parties have gathered enough votes to remove the ruling right-wing populist Law and Justice (PiS) party from power. The National Election Commission confirmed PiS’s victory with 35.38% of the vote, surpassing the centrist opposition Civic Coalition led by Donald Tusk, which secured 30.7%.

Donald Tusk, with the support of the center-right Third Way and New Left parties, is likely to form a broad coalition, thus ending PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski’s eight-year rule. With 248 seats in the 460-seat Sejm, Mr. Tusk’s coalition would exceed the 231-seat threshold required for a majority.

Despite PiS losing 41 seats compared to the last election, their potential coalition with the far-right Confederation party would still fall short by 19 seats. The opposition had alerted Poles that this election was crucial in safeguarding democracy. Voter turnout was reported at 74.38%, the highest since the fall of communism in 1989.

Celebrations erupted in Warsaw, with Mr. Tusk addressing enthusiastic supporters, emphasizing that Poland and democracy had emerged victorious. Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski praised the power of civil society, highlighting the significant voter participation in the capital.

Poland’s stock market surged more than 6%, and the Zloty, its currency, also strengthened on the anticipation of a new government. International observers noted that although parties were allowed to campaign freely, PiS had an advantage due to biased state media coverage and the misuse of public funds.

PiS’s tenure has been characterized by an emphasis on Catholic family values, increases in the minimum wage, and enhancements in child support and pensioner payments. It also imposed a near-total ban on abortion in 2021 and faced criticism for politicizing the judiciary.

Mr. Tusk has pledged to improve relations with the EU and unlock €36bn of EU Covid pandemic recovery funds, frozen due to disputes over PiS’s judicial reforms. His coalition also aims to liberalize abortion laws.

Poland’s strong support for Ukraine since Russia’s invasion and its acceptance of a million refugees are expected to continue under the new government. However, the process of forming a new government might extend until December, following President Andrzej Duda’s announcement that the winning party would be given the first opportunity to form a coalition, adhering to Polish tradition.

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Polish election: Right-wing ruling party to lose majority – exit poll

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According to an exit poll, Poland’s Law and Justice party, led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, is projected to secure the most seats in the general election but might not secure a third term. The party is estimated to receive 36.6% of the vote, with the Civic Coalition, led by Donald Tusk, closely trailing at 31%.

The high turnout, possibly the highest since the fall of communism, reflects the gravity of the election. While the initial results indicate PiS’s lead, it falls short of the majority needed.

Tusk aims to improve relations with the EU and unlock frozen EU Covid recovery funds, while Kaczynski maintains anti-migration policies. The final government formation depends on potential coalition building, with the fate of Poland’s political future at stake.

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Poland’s Government Faces Mounting Pressure Amid Escalating Visa-for-Cash Scandal

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The Speaker of Poland’s upper house of parliament, Tomasz Grodzki, has urged the government to disclose its knowledge regarding an escalating scandal involving cash for visas. Grodzki expressed concern that the issue was damaging Poland’s international image as a responsible democracy.

Reports suggest that migrants paid substantial sums, up to $5,000 (£4,000) each, to expedite their work visa applications. While seven individuals have been charged in connection with the scandal, none of them are public officials.

The Deputy Foreign Minister of Poland, Piotr Wawrzyk, was dismissed last week in the wake of these allegations. His removal coincided with a search of the foreign ministry conducted by Poland’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA). The director of the ministry’s legal service was also terminated.

In response to the scandal, the foreign ministry announced the termination of all contracts with outsourcing companies responsible for handling visa applications since 2011. Opposition MPs allege that as many as 250,000 visas for individuals from Asia and Africa were irregularly issued through these outsourcing companies, a claim disputed by the government, which maintains that only several hundred were involved.

Donald Tusk, the leader of the opposition Civic Platform party, criticized the government’s migration policy, stating that anyone seeking to travel from Africa to Poland could easily obtain a visa at the embassy. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki dismissed these allegations, asserting that there is no widespread issue.

Speaker Grodzki characterized the scandal as the most significant Poland has faced in the 21st century, with corruption reaching the highest levels of government, posing a direct threat to the country. Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro downplayed the scale of the problem in an interview with state-run news channel TVP Info.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) became aware of the matter in July 2022 and has been conducting investigations since then. This scandal has the potential to cast a shadow over the Law and Justice party’s (PiS) anti-immigration stance ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for the next month. While PiS currently leads in polls, it remains uncertain whether they can secure the outright majority required to continue governing for a third term.

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Donald Tusk advises the UK not to leave EU

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European Council President Donald Tusk has advised the United Kingdom not to leave the European Union.

He opined that the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union would mark the actual end of the Great British Empire.

Mr. Tusk is going to step down from the post in the near future itself, as his term is expected to end next month.

The warning of the European Council president has come at the time the UK government is trying to convince its parliament to approve the deal it reached with the EU in the matter of the proposed exit of the European country from the most powerful economic union in the world.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently asserted that he would try his best to convince the parliament to approve the Brexit deal.

He even criticised the parliamentarians for standing against the verdict of the people of the country.

He, it seems, is of the opinion that the parliamentarians have noting much to do in the matter of the Brexit and are supposed to give their assent as early as possible to the decision taken by the people of the country.

Will the EC president’s comment make any impact is yet to be seen.


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