Election looms as PiS contemplates Sejm dissolution

On Thursday the banking investigation commission voted in favor of a probe into savings and credit co-operative societies (SKOK). A Self-Defense deputy also voted for it, even though it is known that SKOK is closely aligned with Law and Justice (PiS). Rumors abound, however, that PiS is seriously thinking about submitting a motion to dissolve Sejm. Donald Tusk from Civic Platform said that these threats have to be taken seriously because the concept of co-operation between PiS, Lepper (Self-Defense) and Giertych (League of Polish families) has failed. Earlier elections could be a means to ease the tense situation within the coalition. On Friday Andrzej Lepper criticized Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński for sending additional troops to Afghanistan. He was backed by Giertych who said that this issue should be first discussed in Sejm. However, Kaczyński is repelling attacks by claiming that the decision to send Polish soldiers to Afghanistan was made a long time ago. (Rzeczpospolita, 16-17 September, p. A1) M.M.