Rally in front of parliament supports opposition MPs

On Friday, deputies from the opposition Civic Platform (PO), Nowoczesna and Polish People’s Party (PSL), staged a protest in parliament. They occupied the rostrum in a noisy demonstration during a key vote on next year’s budget.

Protesters outside the building, led by the Committee for the Defence of Democracy (KOD) movement, carried placards reading: “MPs, do not be afraid to do the right thing”.

They also voiced their disapproval of new rules on journalists' access to the parliament building in Warsaw which are set to come into force on 1 January.

Broadcasters will be provided studio space within a separate building some distance away from parliament to conduct interviews with MPs.

All journalists - except those from five selected stations - would only be allowed to conduct audio interviews, but no other cameras would be able to enter the building. At present journalists have access to much of the parliament building, where they can ask MPs questions.

Kaczyński said that the bustle of journalists inside the parliament has led him to "be hit in the head by cameras several times".

(rg)