Poland's Supreme Court condemned the ban on state media

Poland's Supreme Court has rejected as illegal plans to liquidate the state radio, television and news agency, which the new liberal government says have become propaganda tools of the previous right-wing administration, US News reported.
The Constitutional Court ruling highlights the challenges facing Prime Minister Donald Tusk's coalition in overturning the policies of the previous government, namely the Law and Justice Party (PIS).
Poland's Ministry of Culture quickly declared the decision invalid, citing irregularities in the appointment of court members appointed when PIS was in power, exacerbating the conflict between Tusk's government and supporters and allies of the former ruling party, including the president Andrzej Duda.
The ministry cited previous resolutions of the European Court of Human Rights, which said the court as currently constituted "is not independent or impartial" and that its decisions therefore "do not have universal binding force".
The ministry's position further complicated the existing legal confusion and it was not clear how the situation could be resolved.
The Constitutional Court stated in its decision that all decisions regarding public media companies should be based on the "Radio and Television Act" and not the "Commercial Companies Act", therefore the minister's decision was invalid.
"The right to dismiss the members of the state media management belongs exclusively to the National Media Council," added the court, referring to the institution created during the PIS administration and consisting of several current or former members of the party. /BGNES