Michał Szczerba, a Member of the European Parliament from Poland’s Civic Coalition, has been handed a major legal defeat. Szczerba lost a lawsuit to Chime Networks, a company that accused him of defamation related to an alleged scandal involving Poland’s National Centre for Research and Development (NCBiR). As part of the court’s ruling, Szczerba must issue public apologies across multiple major media outlets, a move that could come at a huge personal cost.
The District Court in Białystok issued its verdict on August 28, which has been widely circulated today after journalist Marcin Dobski from Telewizja Republika posted about it on social media.
The case revolved around accusations made by Szczerba, claiming that Chime Networks had unlawfully received funding through the “Fast Track – Digital Innovations” competition. He also alleged that the company had illegally influenced the competition’s proceedings. Moreover, he suggested that connections between Jacek Żalek, a member of the Polish Parliament, and the president of Chime Networks had swayed the outcome of the competition.
The court ordered Szczerba to publish a formal apology within seven days after the ruling becomes final. These apologies must be broadcast before 30 episodes of prime-time programs on major networks, including TVN24’s Fakty po Faktach, Polsat News’ Gość Wydarzeń, and Radio Zet’s Gość Radia Zet.
In addition, the apology must be displayed on 17 prominent news portals such as rmf24.pl, polsatnews.pl, tvn24.pl, and niezalezna.pl for a full 30 days. Szczerba is also required to publish the statement in 30 consecutive editions of leading newspapers, including Rzeczpospolita, Sieci, Do Rzeczy, Gazeta Wyborcza, Fakt, and Super Express.
The cost of complying with this ruling is expected to be enormous for Szczerba, as the court has mandated that he cover all expenses out of his own pocket. Given the wide scope of media coverage required, this could lead to substantial financial strain on the politician.
However, the verdict is not yet final, leaving the door open for further legal proceedings.
This case highlights the severe consequences politicians may face when making allegations without sufficient evidence, especially when they involve high-profile companies and public figures. Whether Szczerba will appeal the ruling remains to be seen, but the financial implications could be significant if the current judgment stands.