Anti-government Protests Continue for a Third Day in Warsaw Over Press Freedom

• 12.19.2016, 15:19
•  Europe,  World

BBC.com

As Euronews informs, anti-government protests have continued for a third day in Warsaw over plans to restrict journalists’ access to lawmakers in parliament.

Carrying banners which said “we will not give up on freedom”, several thousand marched outside the constitutional court to thank its outgoing head, Andrzej Rzeplinski, for having opposed changes which they claim are against the law. For the first time PiS supporters also came out onto the streets.

Opposition MPs told that  the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) is trying to stifle press freedom with its plans to limit the number of reporters allowed to cover parliament.

As well as the number of journalists permitted to enter the parliament building being restricted, only five selected Polish TV stations will be allowed to record or broadcast parliamentary sessions. According to the news agency, political tension is rising in Poland between its conservative government and the pro-European Union opposition.

The new rules for journalists have led to the biggest political stand-off in the country for years.

In his turn, Polish President Andrzej Duda mentioned that he will meet party leaders today to try to defuse the row.