Calls for Lepper's dismissal as deputy speaker follow verbal attack on FM

Outrageous remarks made by Samoobrona leader Andrzej Lepper regarding Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz have led to calls in parliament for his removal from the post of Sejm deputy speaker. However, Cimoszewicz's own party, the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), has so far remained silent. In a radio interview on Friday Lepper criticized Cimoszewicz for reportedly keeping secret from the Polish people the terms of the country's European Union (EU) accession, and called him "scum" and his father a "murderer". Cimoszewicz, one of just two SLD deputies who originally voted against the Samoobrona leader becoming deputy speaker, said he is ashamed that Lepper should hold such a post. However his party, the biggest in the Sejm, has as yet issued no statement on the affair. The second biggest party, Civic Platform (PO), has said it will file a motion to remove Lepper from the post, but so far it is not certain if the motion will receive enough support. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 3) T.J.