Coalition plays down impact of Jurek's new party

Four more PiS deputies decided to leave the party and join Jurek, including Adam Zawisza and Marian Pilka. The new party will support the government on many issues, Jurek said. But PiS politicians were visibly angry, although they downplayed the prospect of more PiS MPs leaving the party to join the former speaker. Opposition MPs rejoiced at the prospect of a break-up of PiS and what they see as the increasing likelihood of early elections. But PiS and League of Polish Families (LPR) politicians downplayed the likely electoral impact of the new party, arguing there was no room for another rightwing party, and that Jurek and his associates will fail to receive the support of Father Rydzyk, who backs the current coalition. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 3) R.M.