PKN Orlen files lawsuit against TVP demanding up to zl.20 million

Domestic oil consortium PKN Orlen is demanding up to zl.20 million, the highest amount ever asked for in a lawsuit in Poland, from Polish Television TVP for reporting that PKN had allegedly sponsored Marian Krzaklewski's presidential campaign last October. Last Wednesday TVP, quoting unofficial sources, announced that PKN had illegally spent zl.20 million on Marian Krzaklewski's presidential election campaign. Although PKN sent a message to the station dismissing the information as false the very same day, this additional information was not aired. The same message was sent later on Wednesday by Marian Krzaklewski's electoral committee. PKN has decided to bring legal action against the editor of the main news program 'Wiadomosci'. Meanwhile, TVP officials claim that the material was produced in compliance with rules stipulating journalistic practices. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p.8)