Poland to redraw media tax proposal following protests

WARSAW: Poland’s right-wing government said Tuesday it will redraw its proposed media advertising tax to make it fairer after it led to a media protest and condemnation from a coalition partner and critics abroad.

Independent media suspended coverage for 24 hours last week in protest against the government’s proposal to tax advertising in the media. They say it would put many small news outlets out of business and undermine the freedom and variety of the country’s media landscape. They note they are already paying corporate tax from advertising and many other dues.

Critics in the European Union and the United States have stressed the importance of freedom of speech and media in a democracy.