MPs criticize prospective bill on public media

Opposition MPs have criticised Law and Justice's incoming draft legislation on public media outlets. “If it is supposed to be national television, then where was the consultation with the nation?” commented Kukiz'15 MP Piotr Liroy-Marzec. “The ruling party does not listen to creative circles, and that's a huge mistake. The government is not interested in dialogue,” added Liroy-Marzec who, like the head of his party, veteran rock musician Paweł Kukiz, once worked in the music business. “The bill should be the subject of consultations with creative circles, journalists and artists,” politician said. Meanwhile, Sławomir Neumann of the Civic Platform party told Polish Radio on Friday that the new bill marks “the completion of the attack on public media.” On April 21, Deputy Minister of Culture Krzysztof Czabański informed that a draft bill on public media, which will turn them into "national" media as of July 1, has been filed with the Sejm. The bill will replace the radio and television licence with an obligatory audiovisual fee of PLN 15 per month to be paid with electricity bills. Seniors above 75, handicapped people and veterans will be exempt from the new levy.