Malice of the government spokesman. “Do you feel restricted?”

By Arkadiusz Grochot, Wirtualna Polska | 29 June 2023

Government spokesman Piotr Müller was asked in the Sejm about a statement by more than 50 heads of the Polish media on freedom of the press, radio, television and the Internet in Poland. There was no shortage of mischief in the commentary and running away from the answer.

The statement came after Wirtualna Polska and Onet revealed attempts by government-linked individuals to influence editorial freedom in recent days.

“Together, we will fight to maintain free and independent media as the foundation of a democratic society, protecting the right of citizens to access credible information,” reads the statement signed by editors and editors-in-chief of Poland’s largest media outlets. In total, more than 50 leading editorial boards signed the solidarity appeal.

“When investigative texts began to appear with us, there was also a proposal to buy WP by one of the state treasury companies. When the proposal was categorically rejected, another one appeared: doing joint business. Another ‘no’ generated further attempts to influence the editorial board.” wrote Paweł Kapusta, editor-in-chief of Wirtualna Polska.

In the case of WP and Onet, the proposals were clear: it was about hiring the right people in the editorial offices. The proposals, it goes without saying, were rejected.

Müller comments

Government spokesman Piotr Müller was asked about the statement during a press conference at the Sejm. “Do you feel limited? Here one TVN microphone, here another, a third and a fourth. Therefore, I don’t know if this is a restriction on media freedom. You can supply the fifth and sixth, I encourage you, I will have no problem answering to the fifth and sixth,” the politician said.

His statement was immediately commented on by Radomir Wit of TVN24. “Jaroslaw Kaczynski is in the government, you are his spokesman, it’s as if you could remind Mr. President that it’s been several months since I invited Mr. President for an interview on my program and I didn’t get an answer.”

Müller avoided answering directly and said, “Very nice of you. Mr. Editor, thank you sincerely.”

Journalists in the context of media freedom also asked the government spokesman about the concession for TOK FM radio, which has all along not been granted by the National Broadcasting Council. “The KRRiT is an independent, constitutional institution,” Müller tried to defend.

When a journalist reminded the spokesman that the chairman of the council had referred to himself as “the Taliban of Law and Justice,” he countered: “The KRRiT is an institution that is multi-member and makes decisions collegially. Thank you, I bow to TVN’s five microphones, next time I ask for two more,” Müller concluded with a smile.