WARSAW (AFP) – Polish President Andrzej Duda on Thursday signed into law a controversial media bill handing the conservative government control of state media, despite EU concern and condemnation from rights watchdogs.

“It’s important to the president that state media be impartial, objective and credible,” presidential spokeswoman Malgorzata Sadurska told reporters.

The measure is the latest controversial legislation introduced by the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party of Jaroslaw Kaczynski, which won a general election in October after eight years in opposition.