There is a decision: The Council of Ministers decided to include new companies in the list of entities subject to protection. According to last week's announcement by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, these will include, among others: TVN and Telewizja Polsat, because, as he said, they should “be protected, for example, against aggressive and dangerous from the point of view of the interests of the state Polish acquisition”. In addition, the following companies were added to the list: Cyfrowy Polsat, P4 (it owns the Play network), T-Mobile and WB Electronics.
Donald Tusk explains: – I do not have to justify the need to protect these companies against the risk of these companies that are key to the security of the Polish state falling into unauthorized hands – said Donald Tusk. – I want to emphasize that This will not hinder any transactions – assured the Prime Minister and added that he had evidence to believe that the intentions of those who declared hybrid wars on Poland were serious. – I know that not everyone likes it – admitted Donald Tusk.
TVN and Polsat protected: Companies that were included in the list of strategic companies, cannot be bought or sold without government consent. Usually, State Treasury companies go there, but sometimes also private enterprises, such as Unimot or Orange Poland. So far, there were a total of 17 companies on the list, including: Polish Oil and Gas Mining, Tauron Polska Energia, PKN OrlenPKP or PSE Operator, Orlen and PGNiG. After adding six new companies, there will be 23 on the list.
Can TVN and Polsat be protected? Even before the government made a decision, among lawyers doubts arose. Some experts see reasons behind adding TVN and Polsat to the list. Others point out that, according to the law, only certain companies can be added to the list, including: conducting telecommunications activities. This is how TVN and Polsat are classified. There are doubts whether television stations can be included in this category.
Read also: Does the owner not have to sell TVN? “Then the whole transaction would make absolutely no sense“.