Head of PSL caucus threatens to leave government coalition

The new head of the Polish Peasant Party (PSL)'s Parliamentary Club, Zbignew Kuzmiuk, said in an interview with Radio Zet that if "the Polish European Union (EU) accession negotiators accept the 25% subsidy rate for Polish farmers in 2004, as well as a 5% increase in subsequent years, then the PSL will leave the [government] coalition." Rzeczpospolita learned from PSL politicians that such a firm stand on the issue of agricultural subsidies means that the party intends to be tougher in negotiations with the EU. Government Ombudsman Michal Tober said that the government is not going to treat Kuzmiuk's statement as the position of the entire party. He added that the EU proposal is preliminary and that the government intends to negotiate higher subsidies for Polish farmers. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A3) A.Z.