Polish Protests against Ruling Party Media Restrictions Enter 3rd Day
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Polish opposition supporters have continued protests against the ruling party's media restrictions on Sunday by organizing a massive rally in front of the Constitutional Tribunal in Warsaw, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported from the site.
On Saturday, demonstrators rallied in front of the presidential palace in Warsaw in what became the biggest political standoff between the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) and several opposition groups.
Thousands of people gathered in support of opposition Civic Platform party lawmakers who disrupted the parliamentary session a day earlier in protest of a decision to restrict media access to the Sejm.
Sunday's demonstration was called on the day of Constitutional Tribunal President Andrzej Rzeplinski's departure from the post. Rzeplinski, who served as the constitutional court head since 2010 and is stepping down as his term ends, is a vocal critic of the PiS government and its reform of the court.
In late December 2015, the government enacted a reform stipulating that 13 out of the country's 15 constitutional tribunal judges must be present at the most important court cases instead of nine as had previously been the case. Critics believe that the reform will enable the ruling Law and Justice party to influence the tribunal's decisions. The bill also provides for the principle of the so-called blocking minority, according to which four judges may block motion during a meeting in full attendance.
"Democracy is not forever. Its absence, as well as authoritarian governments and dictatorships can lead to tragedy," rally organizers said in a statement.
The demonstrators plan to march to the Polish Sejm later in the day in support of opposition lawmakers. A similar protest was held late at the site late on Friday.
Warsaw police have responded by bringing in reinforcements from other parts of the country, saying in an official statement that the measures are necessary to ensure security during protests, as well as during a football match due to be held in the city.
Poland's standoff started on Friday, when opposition Civic Platform member Michal Szczerba was asked to leave the parliament session after criticizing the PiS decision to limit media presence in the Polish parliament.
The government's new media restrictions allow only a limited number of TV stations in Poland to record parliamentary sessions starting from next year. A number of Polish news organizations responded by boycotting any coverage of parliamentary activities on Friday.