Partyless Local Governmentists accuse Polish Television of ignoring them in political relations and polls, which in their opinion violates the principle of equal access to public media.
The origin of the dispute
Judicial TVP skirmishes
- In September 2023, the committee sued TVP for removing their result from the television discussion of the Estimator poll.
- The Legnica District Court ordered the sender to apologize and fully publish support data for BS.
- The Court of Appeal upheld the key part of the judgment and imposed an absolute ban on the omission of the group in future polls.
Mark Woch's latest appeal
27 lipca 2025 r. były kandydat na prezydenta Marek Woch wysłał otwarty list do szefostwa TVP, MKiDN i KRRiT. Powołując się na Konstytucję oraz ustawę o radiofonii i telewizji, domaga się kontaktu z osobami odpowiedzialnymi za zapewnienie pluralizmu w mediach publicznych. Woch przypomina, że BS startowali we wszystkich ogólnopolskich kampaniach od 2023 r. i zdobyli setki tysięcy głosów (Full text of the letter available herej).
Dr n. pr. Marek Woch – były kandydat na urząd Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej w wyborach 2025 r. oraz Przewodniczący ugrupowania Bezpartyjni Samorządowcy – Łączy nas Poland, zwrócił się z apelem do: Pani Marty Cienkowskiej – Minister Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego,
@MartaCienkowska Mr Tomasz Sygut – Director General of TVP S.A. in liquidation, Mr Paweł Majchr – Liquidator of Polish Radio, about absolute compliance with the rules of law commonly applicable, including the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, as regards equal access to public media for representatives of the group "Unpartyd and Local Governmentists". https://unparty self-governments.org.pl/dr-n-pr-marek-woch-requests-observation-law-in-range-access-to-public-through-party-and-self-government/ – Dr n. p. Marek Woch on his X profile
Why is the allegation of discrimination serious?
Legal obligations of TVP
| Legal basis | Key requirement |
|---|---|
| Constitution of the Republic of Poland, Article 11 | Freedom and equality of political parties |
| Political Party Act (1997), Article 5 | Access to public broadcasting |
| Broadcasting Act (1992), Article 23 | Obligation to allow presentation of positions |
| Regulation KRRiT (2003) | Fair and pluralistic presentation of positions |
The lack of coverage of BS activities or "cutting" them out of polls therefore violates not only good customs, but also literal regulations.
Effects of media "silence"
- Smaller recognition of the political brand – in 2023 BS had 3.1% support, but the lack of mention in the screen poll undermined their credibility in the eyes of voters.
- A decline in confidence in public media – The trial and judgment publicized in commercial media showed that TVP could manipulate the reception of the political scene.
Media publiczne funkcjonują dzięki finansowaniu obywateli, więc powinny równo traktować wszystkie zarejestrowane komitety – nawet te poza głównym nurtem. Pomijanie „mniejszych” podważa zaufanie do całego systemu informacyjnego i może wpływać na wynik wyborów – a to już realne zagrożenie dla demokracji.
Partyless Local Governmentists have won the right to visibility in court, but they still complain of discrimination on TVP. Mark Wocha's open letter reminds decision-makers of the obligations arising from the Constitution and the laws. If TVP does not change its practices, she will face further legal disputes and public pressure.
