Civic Platform proposes center-right coalition for Europe

The leaders of Civic Platform (PO) have proposed the formation of a wide coalition of center and right-of-center parties to run together in elections to the European Parliament in June 2004. Yesterday in Brussels Maciej Plazynski of PO said he envisaged the coming together of PO, Law and Justice (PiS), Polish Peasants' Party (PSL), National Conservative Alliance (SKL) and the Social Movement (RS). The idea has already been welcomed by the European People's Party (EPP), to which all the aforementioned aspire. Strong support for the right of the political spectrum in Poland would help the EPP retain its position as the biggest group in the European Parliament. Plazynski did not miss the opportunity to criticize the SLD government in its negotiations with the EU and voiced his fear of Poland's losing its chance to profit from its entry into the European club. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A9) J.K.