Europe

Poland to limit media access to politicians in parliament

Associated Press
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In this Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016 journalists protest in front of the parliament in Warsaw, Poland, as the ruling Law and Justice party, which is under tough European Union scrutiny for changes deemed anti-democratic by opponents, plans new rules starting Jan. 1 that would drastically limit reporters' access in parliament. The banner reads : Journalists Society, and right is a communist-era sign reading: Photographing Forbidden. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz) (The Associated Press)

In this Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016 photo a protester raises a communist-era sign reading "Photographing Forbidden", during a journalists protest in front of the parliament in Warsaw, Poland, against the ruling Law and Justice party plans to impose new rules starting Jan. 1 that would drastically limit reporters' access in parliament. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz) (The Associated Press)

Opposition lawmakers occupy the podium to protest in the lower house of parliament in Warsaw, Poland, on Friday, 16 Dec. 2016. They protested in a large group around the podium against the ruling party pans to limit reporters' access to lawmakers. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) (The Associated Press)

Poland's conservative ruling party has sparked accusations that it's taking steps toward censorship with a new plan that would limit reporters' access to parliament.

Opposition lawmakers, furious about the change, chanted "Free media!" and sang the national anthem in the parliament on Friday.

Adam Bodnar, the country's human rights commissioner, also criticized the plan, saying the constitution guarantees the public access to public information.

In the 27 years of Poland's democracy, journalists have been common in the halls of parliament, where they have been able to mingle freely with politicians and grab them for interviews.

The ruling Law and Justice party, which is under tough European Union scrutiny for changes deemed anti-democratic by opponents, plans new rules starting Jan. 1 that would drastically limit reporters' access.