2005 The year in brief: JANUARY
Cimosiewicz rising
Although Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz is thinking of leaving politics, he is elected as the new Sejm Speaker with 223 votes. Soon after, the Democratic Left Alliance makes him its candidate for the presidential elections. According to a CBOS poll, public support for Cimoszewicz is higher than any other candidate, at 16.7%.
Bumar deal
Bumar, a Polish arms company, signs a $40-million contract to sell the Iraqi army 38,000 machine guns and ammunition produced by Gdańsk-based Radmor. The total value of contracts signed between the Polish company and the Iraqi government reaches $320 million.
First 'no' to Constitution
Polish MEPs vote against the draft European Constitution despite the fact that the majority of MEPs vote in favor of it. Although ratification of the Constitution is to be decided by referendums in each member state, the Strasbourg vote is politically significant. Polish MEPs hope to renegotiate the unfavorable terms Poland will receive if other countries do not ratify the document.
Airline alliance
Centralwings, a budget airline owned by the national carrier LOT, and Germanwings, a German budget airline, enter a strategic alliance. Along with their similar names, the companies have similar business models and technology (such as booking systems). The carriers divide the Polish-German market between themselves. Cooperation comprises, among other things, sales, marketing and IT. (Poland A.M.)
Charity money
Volunteers from Jurek Owsiak's Wielka Orkiestra wištecznej Pomocy collect zł.23,218,603. The charity plans to spend some of the money on a Sri Lankan children's hospital destroyed by the tsunami. Polish soldiers stationed in Iraq also took part in the collection.
Biedronka investigation
A major investigation is launched into work practices at the Biedronka supermarket chain after labor inspectors unearthed a series of alleged abuses in safety regulations. The investigations focus on the findings of 229 inspections at Biedronka, where officials found workers forced to carry loads of up to one tonne on handcarts and that 47 percent of stores failed to keep accurate records of working hours.
