Jaroslaw Kaczynski is faced with an awkward dilemma in the long-running case regarding his alleged defamation of liberal daily Gazeta Wyborcza and its parent company, Agora.

The Agora publishers is locked in conflict with the leader of the conservative Law and Justice party, having taken offence that Kaczynski compared Gazeta Wyborcza to the famed communist mouthpiece, Trybuna Ludu (The People’s Tribune).

Warsaw appeal court judge, Urszula Wiercinska said this morning that an out of court settlement “would be the best solution, as the case has already been going on for four years.”

In December, the case was referred to the district court from the Supreme Court of Appeal.

However, when Kaczynski acknowledged that he was prepared to make a settlement, Agora responded that they would only do so in the event of a published apology from the Law and Justice leader.

Kaczynski made the initial remarks in an interview with conservative daily Rzeczpospolita in 2007.

Besides the comment about Gazeta Wyborcza echoing the once ubiquitous communist paper, he also made allusions to Agora’s relations with the business oligarchy, declaring that “Poland’s economy is in no small part in the hands of former communist oligarchs.”

Agora initially filed for 50,000 zloty (12,500 euro) damages, payable to charity, but now states that an apology printed in their publication will suffice.

From the outset, the bedrock of Kaczynski’s defence has been his right to freedom of speech. A highly similar case involving Agora and poet Jaroslaw Marek Rymkiewicz, was adjourned last month.

The parties involved have until 9 May to inform the court on whether a settlement has been reached. (nh/jb)

Source: PAP