01:19Austria: Polish diaspora protest in support of the PiS-led government
Polish residents of Vienna gathered in front of the Polish embassy in the Austrian capital, Saturday, to show their support for the Polish government on the same day thousands of people across Poland protested against the current administration.
They rejected claims the Law and Justice (PiS)-led government is anti-democratic, chanting that all is well in Polish politics. They also urged foreign media to not spread alleged false information about their home country.
Relations between Warsaw and other EU states and institutions have deteriorated in recent months after the eurosceptic PiS party came to power in Poland in October. Gunther Oettinger, European commissioner for digital economy and society, said recently that Poland should be placed under supervision due to recent changes to its laws enacted by PiS.
Poland has also received widespread criticism in recent weeks over amendments to the organisation of the Polish Constitutional Court, as well as controversial media laws that allow PiS to appoint the heads of state media broadcasters and civil service directors. The move sparked outrage among EU media watchdogs, who argue that Poland is jeopardising freedom of the press.
01:19Polish residents of Vienna gathered in front of the Polish embassy in the Austrian capital, Saturday, to show their support for the Polish government on the same day thousands of people across Poland protested against the current administration.
They rejected claims the Law and Justice (PiS)-led government is anti-democratic, chanting that all is well in Polish politics. They also urged foreign media to not spread alleged false information about their home country.
Relations between Warsaw and other EU states and institutions have deteriorated in recent months after the eurosceptic PiS party came to power in Poland in October. Gunther Oettinger, European commissioner for digital economy and society, said recently that Poland should be placed under supervision due to recent changes to its laws enacted by PiS.
Poland has also received widespread criticism in recent weeks over amendments to the organisation of the Polish Constitutional Court, as well as controversial media laws that allow PiS to appoint the heads of state media broadcasters and civil service directors. The move sparked outrage among EU media watchdogs, who argue that Poland is jeopardising freedom of the press.