Poland: tracking the shrinking space for press freedom
By Wojciech Gąsior and Magdalena Wnuk
Since 1989, Poland’s open parliament (Sejm) was supposed to stand for open democracy. It has been one of more transparent legislatures in Europe, rivalled only by the European Parliament and the Swedish Riksdag. Journalists enjoyed almost unlimited freedom: only the plenary room was off-limits during the sessions. The media would then take up their positions in the gallery overlooking the assembly. Many politicians complained about, and took action against, the ever-present cameras and reporters, but none did so quite as doggedly as the Law and Justice (PiS) party.
Warsaw newsstand, 2016. Photo: Jane Whyatt
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