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Polish Senate (archive photo)
Photo: RAFAL GUZ / EPA-EFE / REX
For critics, it is an attempt to restrict the freedom of the press: there is a heated argument about the planned new media law in Poland.
Now the national conservative ruling party PiS has suffered a defeat with its intended change.
The Senate has rejected the controversial broadcasting law.
The majority of the chamber dominated by the opposition voted against the draft that the first chamber of parliament, the Sejm, had passed in mid-August.
Stricter rules for the granting of broadcasting licenses are planned
The amendment to the PiS stipulates that in future broadcasting licenses may only be issued to foreigners in Poland if they "have their headquarters or their place of residence in the European Economic Area".
In addition, the condition applies that the licensee must not be dependent on someone who has headquarters or residence outside of this economic area.
Government critics assume that the law is aimed at the private broadcaster TVN, which is part of the US group Discovery through a holding company registered in the Netherlands.
The news channel TVN24 represents a line that is critical of the PiS.
After the vote in the Senate, the law now goes back to the Sejm, the first chamber of parliament.
However, it is not certain whether the PiS will get enough votes there to pass it despite the veto in the Senate.
The government alliance broke in August during the dispute over the broadcasting law.
The bill also puts a strain on Poland's relationship with Washington.
After harsh criticism from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, President Andrzej Duda has already made it clear that he will not sign the law in its current form.
ulz / dpa