Familiar threats

Last week witnessed familiar turmoil in Polish politics. The foundations of the stabilization pact were once again shaken as the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) threatened its smaller political partners with early elections.

PiS politicians say that following the President's decision last month not to dissolve parliament, the League of Polish Families (LPR) and Self-defense (SO) feel too safe and are not willing to cooperate with PiS.

How can PiS call fresh elections now that the budget has been passed? "The best way, without much argument, would be for the Sejm to dissolve itself," PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński said. The Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) has already announced that it won't object to early elections and Civic Platform, according to its leaders, wants voters to see that PiS can win elections but it can't rule.

The Speaker of the Sejm, Marek Jurek, said that this month PiS will decide whether to dissolve parliament, and that elections could take place in May. Jurek also added that he regrets his decision to have advised the President not to call early elections.

The decision to dissolve the parliament will depend on how well the stabilization pact continues to function. Jarosław Kaczyński has said that the most important bills for PiS are the liquidation of military secret services, and the creation of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Commission for Truth and Justice.

The controversy began with SO's Andrzej Lepper and LPR's Roman Giertych criticizing the ruling PiS. Lepper complained that he is not consulted by PiS leaders and that he learns about government decisions from the media. What most offended him was the fact that the government criticized SO's draft bill on fuel subsidies for farmers, which was an element of the stabilization pact. Giertych, on the other hand, criticized PiS for not carrying out its cheap state policy and said that the ruling party is "alienating itself from reality."