Law and Justice MEP Joachim Brudziński published a statement apologizing to TVN journalist Katarzyna Kolenda-Zaleska for his 2022 comment in which he previously called her a "leading propagandist for state treasury media." The case ended in a court settlement. The apology was met with criticism from the politician's party colleagues, including Ryszard Terlecki, who ironically commented on the situation. Media outlets are reporting the event in different ways, emphasizing either the apology itself or the internal party tensions.

Apology and Statement

MEP Joachim Brudziński published a written statement expressing regret and apologizing to TVN journalist Katarzyna Kolenda-Zaleska for his 2022 comment. He had previously called her a "leading propagandist for state treasury media."

Conclusion of the Court Case

The case brought by the journalist against the MEP ended in a court settlement. One of its conditions was a public apology, which the MEP has now fulfilled.

Reaction Within the Party

Another PiS politician, Ryszard Terlecki, criticized Brudziński's actions with a mocking post on social media. This indicates internal tensions or differing opinions within the party on how to handle such matters.

Different Media Framing

Media outlets are reporting this event differently. Some focus on the apology itself and the positive resolution of the dispute, while others emphasize the controversy surrounding the remarks and the intra-party criticism.

Law and Justice MEP Joachim Brudziński published a written statement apologizing to TVN's "Fakty" journalist Katarzyna Kolenda-Zaleska. The apology concerns a 2022 comment in which the politician called the journalist a "leading propagandist for state treasury media." The case went to court and concluded with a settlement, one condition of which was a public retraction of those words and an expression of remorse. In his statement, Brudziński said he "regrets that his words were perceived as an attack on the journalist's reliability and professionalism," and also emphasized that he "appreciates her reliability and professionalism" in her work. This gesture formally concludes the legal dispute between the parties.

The reaction to this step within the PiS party itself was not uniform. Another prominent politician from the party, Ryszard Terlecki, responded to his colleague's actions with a mocking post on social media. In his comment, referencing the phrasing used by Brudziński, he ironically asked: "Should I also regret?" This reaction suggests the existence of internal tensions or differing communication strategies within the party regarding conflicts with the media, which were frequent in recent years. Relations between some right-wing circles and large media outlets critical of them, such as TVN, have been tense for years. Political rhetoric often included accusations of bias and engaging in "propaganda," leading to numerous disputes, including legal ones, concerning the protection of personal rights.

News media have framed this event in slightly different ways. Some outlets, like TVN24, focused on the fact of the apology and the resolution of the conflict, treating it as a positive outcome. Others, like the Wprost portal, paid more attention to the intra-party dimension of the event, namely Terlecki's criticism, highlighting his ironic tone. Meanwhile, an article in Do Rzeczy, describing the conclusion of the court case, might have focused more on the legal aspect of the settlement. These differences show how the same event can be presented either as an episode from party life or as an individual politician's decision ending a dispute.

Perspektywy mediów: Media reports, like those on TVN24, emphasize the positive resolution of the conflict and the apology gesture as a desirable action. Portals closer to the right, like Do Rzeczy, focus on the legal facts, while Wprost highlights internal divisions within PiS.

Mentioned People

  • Joachim Brudziński — Law and Justice MEP who apologized to the TVN journalist.
  • Katarzyna Kolenda-Zaleska — TVN journalist, reporter for the "Fakty" program, who sued the MEP for protection of personal rights.
  • Ryszard Terlecki — Law and Justice politician who criticized Brudziński's apology with a mocking post.