Exemption from political screening unconstitutional says tribunal

An amendment to the screening law, proposed by the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) has been deemed unconstitutional and rejected by the Constitutional Tribunal. The amendment proposed excluding intelligence services, counter-espionage and border control forces of the former People's Republic of Poland from re-examination for possible past Communist collaboration. The motion for a closer analysis of the amendment was submitted by the opposition, which believed that excluding functionaries working for certain departments from the screening process infringes the principle of equality, and is out of accord with justice and transparency of the life of public officials. According to the opposition, the amendment was another attempt at modifying the law so that SLD leaders, such as Józef Oleksy, Jerzy Jaskiernia and Marek Wagner would be exempt from vetting procedures. (www.rmf.pl) A.C.