Rywin Commission follows up contradictions in politicians statements

The Sejm Commission investigating the Rywin affair has unanimously requested that Aleksandra Jakubowska, the head of the prime ministers political office, appear once again for questioning, as it is suspected that she lied during her first testimony. Jakubowska, who had a major influence on the media bill, admitted in a press interview in March 2002 that the words "or a magazine" were removed deliberately from the bill, yet when asked by the Commission this year, claimed that the omission was a mistake. The Commission will also question former Culture Minister Andrzej Celiński, who recently said on Radio Zet that the prime minister appointed a team to work on the bill. According to Deputy Jan Rokita, who moved the motion to call Celiński, it was the first time that a senior politician admitted that such a team ever existed. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 9, Rzeczpospolita, p. A4) M.K.