This is the end of an era at the National Broadcasting Council. Maciej Świrski, considered the last bastion of the erstwhile power in the public media, was dismissed from the position of chairman. The decision was taken during the interior vote of the members of the Council, who decided by a statutory majority to end his word of office in that position. This decision follows shortly after the Sejm opened the way for Świrski to be brought to the Court of State, which further inflamed the situation around the media marketplace regulator. In fresh months Świrski has been in an open conflict with the fresh ruling coalition, blocking the payment of subscription compensation for Polish tv and Polish Radio in liquidation. Now the rudders in KRRiT take over the fresh management, headed by Agnieszka Glapiak, whose nomination already at the start sparks immense controversy over the loud claim of the acquisition of a luxury watch.
End of the "last bastion" era. How did Swirski get cancelled?
Maciej Świrski's dismissal from the position of KRRiT president is the culmination of a multi-month political and legal dispute. Decision taken by a statutory majority of 4 votes Members of the Council, which was a direct consequence to expanding force and allegations of harming public media. The authoritative KRRiT communication refers to Article 9(1) in conjunction with Article 7(2b) of the Broadcasting and Broadcasting Act, and the reason given is "a concern about the appropriate fulfilment of the constitutional obligations of the KRRiT threatened by the actions of the ruling coalition in the Polish Parliament".
This decision is inextricably linked to the fresh decision of the Sejm, which passed a resolution on the substance of bringing Maciej Świrski to constitutional work before the Court of State. Politicians of the ruling coalition accused him of bias, breaking the law and deliberately stopping backing for TVP and Polish Radio. Swirski blocked the payment of hundreds of millions of zlotys from subscription compensation, arguing that the liquidation of media companies by the Minister of Culture was unlawful. At the same time, in the past he was celebrated for imposing advanced financial penalties on the media critical of the erstwhile government, including TVN television. His appeal is seen as breaking the last bastion of the influence of the erstwhile ruling squad on the media scenery in Poland.
New management at KRRiT. Who's taking over?
With the cancellation of Maciej Świrski, the National Radio and tv Council immediately elected fresh authorities. The fresh president, besides by a four-vote majority, became Agnes Glapiak. Her replacement, with the same support, was chosen Hanna Karp. This choice shows that a fresh majority has formed within the Council, ready to take decisive action and change the current course of institutions.
Who's the fresh head of KRRiT? Agnieszka Glapiak is simply a character with rich experience in the media and government administration. She began her journalistic career in 1991 in Polish Television. Her professional career became powerfully active with politics at the time of Jerzy Buzek's government, erstwhile she took the position in Government Information Centre (CIR). She besides served during the word of Prime Ministers Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz and Jarosław Kaczyński, which shows her long-term commitment to the structures of power related to Law and Justice. In later years she worked in the press services of the Ministry of Interior and Administration and the Ministry of National Defence. KRRiT was a associate of the KRRiT in 2022, and is now in charge of it at a crucial minute for Polish media.
Controversy around the fresh president. Case of the watch for PLN 6,000
Agnieszka Glapiak's nomination for specified an exposed position from the very beginning is burdened with serious controversy. In April 2024, Deputy Minister of National Defence Caesary Tomczyk publically accused her of misappropriation of crucial value. It's a luxury Longines women's watch, whose value is estimated at over 6,000 zlotys. This watch was to be an authoritative gift for the South Korean defence Minister.
According to information provided by MON, the gift never went to the recipient. Instead, as a consequence of the investigation, The Military Police Department was expected to find a watch in Agnieszka Glapiak's private apartment. The case immediately became criminal. It has been confirmed by the D.A.'s office investigating a possible crime. This unresolved and highly serious affair casts a deep shadow on the fresh KRRiT president and questions her credibility erstwhile she is to stand defender on ethics and transparency in the media. This will surely be 1 of the main topics of the public debate in the coming weeks.
What happens to public media? Implications of changes in the KRRiT
The change at the KRRiT summit is simply a fundamental event for the future of public media in Poland. First of all, the appeal of Maciej Świrski most likely means Unlocking frozen funds from subscription compensation for TVP and Polish Radio. This money is crucial for the current functioning and restructuring of companies that have been facing tremendous financial uncertainty for months. The fresh management, headed by Agnieszka Glapiak, will face the task of urgent regulation.
Secondly, this change may affect KRRiT's policy towards private broadcasters. Stopping penalties and a more balanced approach to the marketplace can become a fresh standard, ending the period during which the regulator was seen as a tool for political pressure. However, controversy around the fresh president may complicate this process. Its legal situation will be closely monitored and may become an argument for the opposition to undermine the legitimacy of the full body. Regardless, shuffling in KRRiT is simply a clear signal that the conflict for control and form of Polish media enters a completely new, decisive phase.
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Emergency twist in KRRiT. Maciej Swirski cancelled! Who's his successor?
