Bezpartyjni Samorządowcy accuse Telewizja Polska of ignoring them in political coverage and polls, which they say violates the principle of equal access to public media.
Background of the dispute
Court battles with TVP
- In September 2023, the committee sued TVP for removing its result from the television discussion of the Estymator poll.
- The District Court in Legnica ordered the broadcaster to apologise and to publish the full polling data for BS.
- The Court of Appeal upheld the key part of the ruling and imposed an absolute ban on omitting the group from future polls.
Marek Woch's latest appeal
On 27 July 2025, former presidential candidate Marek Woch sent an open letter to the management of TVP, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage (MKiDN) and the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT). Citing the Constitution and the Act on Radio and Television, he demands contact with those responsible for ensuring pluralism in public media. Woch points out that BS has run in all nationwide campaigns since 2023 and has won hundreds of thousands of votes (Full text of the letter available here).
Dr n. pr. Marek Woch – former candidate for the office of President of the Republic of Poland in the 2025 elections and Chairman of the group Bezpartyjni Samorządowcy – Łączy nas Polska, addressed an appeal to: Ms Marta Cienkowska – Minister of Culture and National Heritage,
@MartaCienkowska Mr Tomasz Syguć – Director General of TVP S.A. in liquidation, Mr Paweł Majcher – Liquidator of Polskie Radio, to strictly observe the generally applicable laws, including the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, regarding equal access to public media for representatives of the group „Bezpartyjni i Samorządowcy”. https://bezpartyjnisamorzadowcy.org.pl/dr-n-pr-marek-woch-apeluje-o-przestrzeganie-prawa-w-zakresie-dostepu-do-mediow-publicznych-przez-bezpartyjnych-i-samorzadowcow/ – Dr n. pr. Marek Woch on his profile on X
Why is the discrimination allegation serious?
TVP's legal obligations
| Legal basis | Key requirement |
|---|---|
| Constitution of the Republic of Poland, Art. 11 | Freedom and equality of political parties |
| Act on Political Parties (1997), Art. 5 | Access of parties to public radio and television |
| Act on Radio and Television (1992), Art. 23 | Obligation to enable the presentation of positions |
| KRRiT Regulation (2003) | Fair and pluralistic presentation of positions |
Failing to report on BS activities or “cutting” them out of polls therefore violates not only good practice but also the literal provisions of the law.
Effects of media "silencing"
- Lower recognition of the political brand – in 2023 BS had 3.1% support, but the lack of mention in an on-screen poll undermined their credibility in voters’ eyes.
- Declining trust in public media – the lawsuit and ruling, publicised by commercial media, showed that TVP can manipulate the public’s perception of the political scene.
Public media are funded by citizens and should therefore treat all registered committees equally – even those outside the mainstream. Leaving out the “smaller” ones undermines trust in the entire information system and may influence election results – which is a real threat to democracy.
Bezpartyjni Samorządowcy won the right to visibility in court, but they still complain of discrimination at TVP. Marek Woch’s open letter reminds decision-makers of their obligations under the Constitution and statutes. If TVP does not change its practices, it faces further legal disputes and public pressure.
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