AWS bets on Krzaklewski in Presidential elections to win over lost voters

Marian Krzaklewski has been officially designated as Solidarity Election Action's (AWS) candidate in the forthcoming presidential election. The announcement by AWS senior deputy Kazimierz Janiak was coolly received by the party's coalition partner Freedom Union (UW) Krzaklewski would assume the Prime Minister's office if Jerzy Buzek resigns, as he promised to do if the coalition parties agreed on a replacement. Krzaklewski is the only person in AWS to have control over the party's unruly members who constantly block all government initiatives. Analysts say AWS is desperately trying to regain its lost popularity and to catch up with the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) which has the support of 40% of the electorate. "We will analyze Krzaklewski's candidacy. It is too early to say if we will approve of it," said UW spokesman Andrzej Potocki. (Rzeczpospolita, June3-4, page 1,2,3; Gazeta Wyborcza, June 3-4, page 1,4,10, Reuters) J.K.