Sad reflection

The Polish party in power is playing for time

Yesterday, Polish President Lech Kaczynski spoke about the political situation in the country after a scandalous video was shown on a national television channel, depicting the process of luring deputy Renata Beger from Self-Defense to the ruling party Law and Justice (PiS), which is building a majority. The leader of PiS is Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Lech's brother.

The head of state called the secret video recording “negotiations between the opposition and representatives of PiS,” and not “corruption,” as the oppositionists claim. “This is a big semantic abuse,” said Mr. President thoughtfully. — Last year was good for Poland, even the best since 1989. The objective situation in the country is good, but its reflection in the media looks incredibly sad, which is dangerous for democracy.” The President promised that he would personally participate in clarifying the political situation only if necessary and not earlier than next week. At the same time, he supported his brother’s policy: “Now I don’t see an opportunity to create a government better than the current cabinet of Jaroslaw Kaczynski.”

President Kaczynski decided to defuse the situation in Szczecin, where he came to the 20th Solidarity Congress. He once again missed Lech Walesa, who was also invited to the anniversary congress and the organizers had confirmed his presence the day before. But the founder of the legendary trade union flew to Rome, saying that “it cannot be in two cities on the same day.” “The 25th anniversary of the first historical congress is a great thing. But the current “Solidarity” is almost not mine anymore. She is friends with the Kaczynskis and becomes an extension of PiS,” Walesa said.

Yesterday, the Chairman of the Sejm, Marek Jurek, decided not to convene an emergency meeting of the Polish parliament. The opposition demanded an urgent convening of parliament to consider the issue of dissolving the Sejm and holding early elections. This issue will be considered no earlier than October 10, when the next parliamentary session opens as scheduled. Self-dissolution of the parliament is unlikely, because the demands of the opposition parties are opposed by former members of the PiS coalition and the League of Polish Families, without whom it is impossible to make a decision on early elections. Nevertheless, one of the leaders of the opposition Civic Platform, Bronislaw Komorowski, believes that “since a minority government would be doomed to constant drift, the best way out of the crisis would be early parliamentary elections.”

Valery MASTEROV, staff correspondent for Moscow News in Warsaw, for Vremya Novostei