Poland
Polish government control shifting to minority leftists
Classified Polnews
Warsaw, Poland September 9, 2006. The Polish government is controlled by a three party coalition in which most of the members of the coalition belong to a conservative right wing political party, Law and Justice. But even though this party has most of the members of the coalition, the power and direction of the government has been shifting to a small leftist party that has recognized and is exploiting the weakness of the major party.
Deputy Prime Minister Andrzej Lepper, leader of the minority coalition party Samoobrona, entered into coalition with the Law and Justice Party and by such entry, along with the third party League of Polish Families, enabled the Law and Justice Party to put together a controlling coalition. During the negotiation process of the coalition agreement, and during the early phases of the coalition's activities, the Law and Justice Party threatened the other two parties with the prospect of new elections unless they adhere to the dictates of the Law and Justice Party.
But the roles have now switched as Andrzej Lepper has found his footing and has recognized how he can control the leader of the Law and Justice Party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski.
Of late Andrzej Lepper has made some very serious demands upon Jaroslaw Kaczynski. And he has backed up his demands with his own threats that would result in early elections were they not met. And for the most part, he has been getting his way. Jaroslaw Kaczynski has talked at a tough game each time Lepper has made a demand but has generally subsequently caved in.
Andrzej Lepper demonstrated how much power he has yesterday, September 8, 2006, when he announced that unless by 4:00 p.m. that afternoon the head of the parliamentary agricultural committee be dismissed, he would and not support the government in turning down a vote of no-confidence against the Treasury Minister.
The Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski was seen quickly leaving an important meeting concerning the reappointment of Zyta Gilowska to the position of Financial Minister and rushing to the Polish parliament to try to settle the matter.
The head of the agricultural committee, Wojciech Mojzesowicz, a former member of the Samoobrona and current member of the Law and Justice Party, suddenly resigned from his position. The crisis was averted.
This victory is added to the recent list of victories which include increasing taxes to give more money to farmers that demanded by Andrzej Lepper under the threat of not supporting a government position.
Andrzej Lepper still wants budgetary changes made and has stated that he will not support the budget unless these changes are made. If he does not support the budget, the government will be forced into early elections.
Lepper seems more confident of his ability to maintain or improve his position in the Polish parliament than does Jaroslaw Kaczynski if there are early elections.
Each time Lepper forces Kaczynski's hand he becomes stronger and more confident. And each time he forces Kaczynski's hand he shifts control of the government from Kaczynski to him.
As Lepper said earlier that it is not Law and Justice that gave his party power by bringing them into the coalition, but it is his party that gave Law and Justice power. He is now showing the practical effect of his empowerment and shifting control of the government to his hands.
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