PiS leader Kaczyński calls supporters to join march "in defense of democracy and media freedom"

A pro-European Union coalition headed by Donald Tusk took power in Poland in December and started an overhaul of state media institutions which critics say had become propaganda outlets during the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party's eight years in power.

Speaking on Wednesday (January 3), Kaczyński told reporters in Warsaw that the actions taken against state media institutions were illegal and called for demonstrations in defense of freedom of speech, media freedom, and democracy.

"January 11th is approaching. The day when a demonstration will take place in Warsaw in defense of freedom of speech, media freedom and in defense of democracy. Because we have a real problem with democracy today."

The changes have drawn strong opposition from PiS, which says the new government has circumvented normal parliamentary procedure in implementing them.

"Donald Tusk announced that: 'the law will be applied as we understand it.' This means that the law will be freely interpreted. This means, in fact, that it is not valid. It is simply the political will of the authorities that applies," Kaczyński added.

"And these words turned out not to be thrown into the wind, but to be completely serious. Well, the actions that are taken primarily against the media, but are also announced against other institutions of public life, are completely illegal."

Speaking with Kaczyński, former Defence Minister, Mariusz Błaszczak said "only the loud voice of free Poles" could stop the opposition’s attack on public media.

"Only the loud voice of free Poles can stop the lawlessness that we are dealing with in the 'December 13' coalition. This lawlessness includes, among other things, the attack on public media. I myself witnessed a security company entering the Polish Press Agency at three in the morning to take over the building," Błaszczak said.