Andrzej Lepper's Samoobrona party celebrates its tenth anniversary

Self-Defense (Samoobrona) yesterday celebrated its 10th anniversary with a party at the seaside town of Darlowek, where several thousand people and all the party's major activists had their festive day. The celebrations started with a mass in Darlowek, the town in which Samoobrona leader Andrzej Lepper established the party ten years ago. Lepper, assisted by a number of burly body guards gave a speech in which he criticized Leszek Balcerowicz, spoke about agriculture and ridiculed the European Union and the government of Solidarity Election Action (AWS). He also expressed his regret about the fate of policemen and of seamstresses from the Odra plant. "When you founded the party ten years ago you were a visionary, the source of our inspiration. Today we implement your vision, which has become a goal for millions of Poles," said a young party activist. The celebrations will end today with a concert and disco and will continue on Saturday. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A3) P.W.