President calls on PM to testify in Gazeta Wyborcza media bill allegation

President Aleksander Kwasniewski yesterday called on Prime Minister Leszek Miller to testify to prosecutors in the alleged multi-million-dollar bribery scandal involving a leading film producer and a top media group. Prosecutors are probing claims by Adam Michnik, the chief editor of Gazeta Wyborcza, that Lew Rywin, who helped make Oscar-winning film "Schindler's List", solicited a $17.5 million bribe on behalf of Miller's political party. Michnik taped and published a conversation he said he held with Rywin. According to a transcript, the producer sought cash for Miller's Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) from Gazeta Wyborcza's publisher, media group Agora, in return for changes to media legislation which would allow Agora to acquire a significant share in the Polsat television station. Miller denies any role in the affair, which he has called "grotesque". Rywin has also denied any wrongdoing. Michnik testified to prosecutors on Monday. The director of Agora, Wanda Rapaczynska, followed suit on Tuesday. Gazeta Wyborcza waited six months to publish the allegations, saying it did not want to put at risk Poland's EU entry talks which were wrapped up at December's Copenhagen summit. Sejm Speaker Marek Borowski has ordered a one-month halt on work on the media bill, which Agora and other private media groups say discriminates against them and unfairly favours public broadcasters. (Reuters) A.K. Prime Minster bills rejects President's call to distance himself from TV bill Contrary to the President's opinion, Prime Minister Leszek Miller decided that Aleksandra Jakubowska will continue to represent the government in the work on the controversial Radio and Television Bill. "The head of the Prime Minister's Political Office should not engage either the Prime Minister himself or his authority in the work on the bill," said President Kwas niewski in an interview on Polish Radio 3. Miller's decision was explained by Jakubowska who said, "If the issue was handed over to somebody else, it would mean slowing the pace of the progress on the bill" she said. (Rz eczpospolita, p. A1) A.Z.