Warsaw - Poland's parliament passed a law Friday exempting all pensioners, the unemployed and social welfare recipients from licensing fees for radio and television with immediate effect.

Following its election win last autumn, the governing People's Platform (PO) had announced that it aimed to abolish licensing fees entirely from January 1, 2009 and public broadcasting stations would then be financed through the national budget.

During hefty parliamentary exchanges, Prime Minister Donald Tusk termed the fees "protection money" for something that no longer had anything to do with its public function.

Polish pensioners were financing a propaganda campaign by parties who had taken control over public media, he added.

The national-conservative opposition behind former prime minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski accused the government of trying to destroy public media.

There would have been no large-scale Polish films, no cultural institutions without financial backing by TVP television, said Law and Justice (PiS) MP Jacek Kurski.

The head of the public broadcaster, Polskie Radio, Krzysztof Czabanski said the move would "wipe out" Polish broadcasting.

According to government sources, only 40 per cent of Poles currently pay TV and radio licensing fees. The annual fee is currently 186 zloty (84 dollars) when paid in advance. (dpa)