http://www2.polskieradio.pl/eo/dokument.aspx?iid=82762

Poles dissatisfied with President’s media law veto

19.05.2008

As many as 45 percent of Poles believe that President Lech Kaczynski made a wrong decision to veto the amendment to the broadcasting law last week, a poll by TNS OBOP reveals.

 

Every third respondent approved of the President’s veto and 21 percent said they don’t have a fixed opinion on this matter.

 

The vetoed amendment included changes to the method of appointing members of the National Broadcasting Council, as well as to supervisory boards and management boards of the public media.

 

President Kaczynski explained his veto saying that he is convinced that the new law would lead to making public media ever more commercial and limiting its influence in society.

 

Since the general election last autumn, both the ruling Civic Platform party and opposition Law and Justice have accused each other of trying to gain control of public media. Law and Justice are particularly incensed about government plans to abolish the licence fee and fund public radio and TV from direct taxation. (jm)