PM denies link to alleged bribery scandal

Poland’s embattled prime minister categorically denied any involvement in a murky scandal that has gripped the nation as he testified today before a parliamentary panel investigating allegations that a leading film producer attempted to solicit a bribe for lobbying the government.

Leszek Miller’s calm and confident appearance as a witness – televised live by two news channels – was an important test for the premier, who has run a minority government since dropping his junior coalition partner in March, saw two ministers quit earlier this month and has seen his popularity ratings plummet amid an economic slump.

At issue are allegations by the Gazeta Wyborcza daily that film producer Lew Rywin solicited an €15m bribe from the newspaper’s publisher in return for lobbying to sway media laws in its favour.

Gazeta alleged that Rywin said he represented Miller and “a group holding power”, but Rywin maintains he is innocent and has denied that the prime minister was involved.

“I have never sent Lew Rywin to anyone on any mission,” Miller said in his opening statement today.

He added that when he heard about the case from Gazeta Wyborcza editor newspaper Adam Michnik last July, he considered it ”absurd”.

“I still cannot explain in a clear and reasonable way the substance of the (so-called) Rywin affair,” Miller said.

The prime minister insisted that the fact his name arose made him “personally interested in explaining and investigating all the circumstances”.

Miller contended that a bribe offer would have made no sense at a time when the government and private media already had agreed a compromise on the new media law.

In its original form, the proposed law would have prevented national newspaper publishers owning any nationwide broadcaster – a proposal made at a time Gazeta’s publisher, Agora SA, was considering the purchase of a national television station.

Gazeta went public with the allegations in December, prompting parliament to set up the 10-member investigating committee, which started work on February 8 and initially had Poles glued to their TV sets.

Appearing before the panel in February, Rywin maintained his innocence but shed little light on the scandal, refusing to answer questions. He could face up to three years in prison if convicted.

Rywin’s Heritage Films co-produced Roman Polanski’s The Pianist that won three Academy Awards last month, including an Oscar for best director. The company also co-produced Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List, which won the 1993 Academy Award for best picture.

The scandal has helped push down the popularity of Miller’s Democratic Left Alliance at a time when his government already is battling with a 19% unemployment rate and is preparing for a June 7-8 referendum on Polish membership of the European Union.