TVP withdraws programs in response to accusations of political bias

The management of TV Poland announced yesterday that it had decided not to broadcast programs featuring candidates who are standing for election to Parliament. The decision is a response to Monday's article in the Rzeczpospolita daily, highlighting the influence of the Polish Peasants Party (PSL) on public television. The issue will be discussed further. However, according to a TVP spokesman, "There will be no discussion without the presence of the people directly involved." The programs that will no longer be aired include Camera Among Animals, made by Hanna Gucwinska and her husband, as well as Longin Pastusiak's program featuring anecdotes about American presidents. Both Gucwinska and Pastusiak are standing for a seat in Parliament. The management of TVP has also decided that people running in the election will not be permitted to perform a managerial role in TVP. The vice-director of TVP in Katowice, Jan Wysoglad, is a candidate for Parliament from the Polish Peasants Party in Bielsko Biala, and according to the decision he will have to resign from his position with TVP. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, A4) P.W.