Belka gives his backing
The Democratic Party (PD) is seeking to unite intellectuals who were the backbone of Poland's first non-communist government with defectors from the ruling left ahead of parliamentary elections due in September or October.
Belka, who was forced to stay on as head of the unpopular leftist minority government, stopped short of declaring membership of the new Democratic Party as it held its founding congress.
But he did not hold back from championing the organization. "The Democratic Party is being created for those who have lost faith in politics to regain a reason to go to the polls," he said.
Combining strong pro-European views with liberal economics, the party can count on three to seven percent of support, according to opinion polls.
Belka's minority ruling Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) is set to lose power in the elections, which the center-right is expected to win.
The Prime Minister offered his resignation a fortnight ago after parliament refused to bring forward elections, ignoring his plea to end a gridlock that has left his minority government unable to pass legislation. But President Aleksander KwaEniewski rejected his resignation, saying searching for a replacement shortly before polls made no sense.
Belka has previously hinted he wishes to leave SLD, whose image has been tarnished by sleaze and corruption scandals. But he has signaled that his involvement in the centrist party will have to be low key while he continues to head the government. (Reuters) JT
Belka, who was forced to stay on as head of the unpopular leftist minority government, stopped short of declaring membership of the new Democratic Party as it held its founding congress.
But he did not hold back from championing the organization. "The Democratic Party is being created for those who have lost faith in politics to regain a reason to go to the polls," he said.
Combining strong pro-European views with liberal economics, the party can count on three to seven percent of support, according to opinion polls.
Belka's minority ruling Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) is set to lose power in the elections, which the center-right is expected to win.
The Prime Minister offered his resignation a fortnight ago after parliament refused to bring forward elections, ignoring his plea to end a gridlock that has left his minority government unable to pass legislation. But President Aleksander KwaEniewski rejected his resignation, saying searching for a replacement shortly before polls made no sense.
Belka has previously hinted he wishes to leave SLD, whose image has been tarnished by sleaze and corruption scandals. But he has signaled that his involvement in the centrist party will have to be low key while he continues to head the government. (Reuters) JT
