New Poland Senate law to affect US
Poland could pass a law that will affect the influence of US-owned media in the country, as the US shows its "disappointment."
Polish MPs on Friday adopted a media law seen by critics as an attempt by the right-wing populist government to limit the effect of the US-owned news channel TVN24.
The law, which was adopted by a majority in the lower house that overrules opposition in the Senate, will prevent companies from outside the European Economic Area from holding a controlling stake in Polish media companies.
If passed, the law would force US group Discovery to sell its majority stake in TVN, one of Poland's biggest private TV networks.
Bix Aliu, the US embassy in Warsaw's Charge D'affaires, tweeted Friday "The United States is extremely disappointed by today's passage of the media bill."
The United States is extremely disappointed by today's passage of the media bill by the Sejm. We expect President Duda to act in accordance with previous statements to use his leadership to protect free speech and business.
— Bix Aliu (@USAmbPoland) December 17, 2021
The Senate, where the opposition has a majority, had voted against the law in September but was initially approved by the lower house in August.
The US at the time said it was "deeply troubled" by the law and warned about its potential impact on "press freedom" in Poland and the business climate for foreign investors.
Washington had asked Polish President Andrzej Duda to veto the bill, as the draft law still has to be signed by the latter to become law.
"We expect President Duda to act in accordance with previous statements to use his leadership to protect free speech and business," Aliu said.