A third day of protests has taken place against plans by Poland’s ruling Law and Justice Party (PIS) to restrict journalists’ access to parliamentary sessions.
Supporters of the PIS are also demonstrating in Warsaw, while opposition MPs are staging a sit-in in the plenary chamber of parliament until at least Tuesday (December 20).
#Poland's opposition occupies parliament podium in protest against planned curbs on media access pic.twitter.com/nlR3l503yi— Marcin Goettig (@marcingoettig) December 16, 2016
President Andrzej Duda, who is aligned with the governing party, is holding talks with opposition leaders and has offered to mediate between the two sides.
Senate speaker Stanislaw Karczewski conceded changes were needed.
“The Law and Justice party and the speaker of the lower Chamber of Parliament Marek Kuchcinski each want to improve journalists’ working conditions. We all know that their working conditions are not the best, they are not good and require some adjustment, some changes.”
Opposition politicians and protesters claim the PIS is attempting to stifle press freedom.
The government, however, says it does not think the proposed measures are restrictive.
Spontaneous mass protests for media freedom in Warsaw, now starting in Krakow Szczecin and other cities throughout Poland #WolneMediawSejmie pic.twitter.com/qgihD4hQ2d— Martin Mycielski (@mycielski) December 16, 2016
