In Brief: Andrzej Olechowski; Environment; TVP; Samoobrona

Andrzej Olechowski, who announced his withdrawal from political life after losing the elections for Mayor of Warsaw last year, said yesterday he plans to join the Civic Platform (PO) and become one of its leaders. According to unofficial information he may become the honorary leader of the party. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A3) ... Finance Minister Grzegorz Kołodko announced plans to abolish voivodship-based environmental protection funds as au tonomous units, and combine them with the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW). The project is strongly opposed by the current Environment Minister, Czesław Śleziak. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A3) ... Bolesław Sulik, a board member of TVP, will be questioned by the Sejm commission investigating the Rywin case today. Sulik is a strong supporter of the current head of TVP, Robert Kwiatkowski, and recently said that the commission's request to suspend Kwiatkowski from his duties was exertion of political pressure on TVP board members. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A1) ... Self-Defence (Samoobrona) head Andrzej Lepper yesterday annuounced plans to withdraw from all coalitions previously formed with the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), by April 19. Lepper also warned that if anybody from his party fails to conform to his call, they will be excluded at Easter. He also called on Leszek Miller to resign. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A3) A.K.