Left propose round-table talks on public media.
Members of the Social Democracy of Poland (SdPl) and the Democratic Party (PD) want the government and opposition to come to a consensus on public media reform.
SdPl leader Marek Borowski and chair of the PD parliamentary circle Bogdan Lis announced at a press conference in parliament on Thursday that under certain conditions, their parties might vote for overriding the President's veto of the media bill.
This would mean that the government would gain the support of eleven MPs.
To override President Lech Kaczynski's veto of the amendment to the broadcasting law proposed by the government, the ruling coalition needs a majority of three fifths in the lower house of parliament, with at least half of MPs present. If all MPs attend, the coalition will need 276 votes; it now has 240.
The amendments proposed by the government to the current law aimed at limiting the competence of the National Radio and TV Council (KRRiT), two out of five members of which are appointed by the president himself. The government is in favour of reinforcing powers held by the Electronic Communication Office controlled by the government.
Borowski said that there is a need for laws regulating the financing of the public media after the licence fee is abolished, a separate bill which the government aims to drive through parliament.
The opposition leader also expects a declaration that public media will not be privatised and the regional Polish Television and Polish Radio stations will not be given over to local authorities.
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. (mo)