Poland's deputy ministers of economic development Iwona Michałek and Andrzej Gut-Mostowy, as well as deputy science and higher education minister Wojciech Murdzek, announced their resignation from office. Earlier on, deputy chief of Accord Marcin Ociepa said he would step down as deputy minister of defence.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki asked the president on Tuesday to dismiss Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development, Labour and Technology Jarosław Gowin. Asked about the PM's decision, Gowin said it effectively ended the ruling United Right coalition.
On Wednesday, a spokesman for the Accord party Jan Strzeżek announced that the junior coalition partner had decided to leave the ruling coalition, and the party MPs were to quit PiS parliamentary club and form a separate parliamentary circle.
"The project we had started together with Jarosław Gowin under the United Right, it was a good project. Unfortunately, it was disrupted yesterday, and as a result I can't imagine further work in the ministry, and the United Right as a whole, without Jarosław Gowin. I disagree with government spokesperson Piotr Mueller's yesterday's argumentation," Iwona Michałek said.
"So, as we've parted our ways, today I announce my resignation," she added.
Also Andrzej Gut-Mostowy said he would step down as deputy minister of economic development, saying it was "a natural consequence of Jarosław Gowin's dismissal as deputy prime minister and minister of development".
Another deputy chief of this ministry, Grzegorz Piechowiak, followed suit later on Wednesday.
Earlier that day, a PiS parliamentary club member and deputy chief of Accord Marcin Ociepa announced his resignation as Deputy Minister of Defence.
Anti-TVN law in parliament
The Polish government thinks it can pass a bill tightening media ownership rules on Wednesday despite firing the party leader of a junior coalition partner, a government spokesman said.
Gowin's Accord party, which opposed the changes to the Broadcasting Act in the form they have been proposed, announced officially on Wednesday that it was leaving the United Right coalition that has ruled Poland since 2015.
The Polish parliament will vote on Wednesday on an amendment that tightens rules concerning foreign ownership of television and radio stations.
Critics say the changes could result in TVN24, which is owned by U.S. giant Discovery, losing its licence.
Thousands of Poles took to the streets on Tuesday to protest against changes they say aim to silence a broadcaster critical of the government.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, TVN24, Reuters