Krzaklewski's Presidential candidacy to be cleared by AWS National Council

Marian Krzaklewski, the leader of Solidarity Election Action (AWS) has announced he will run for President in the forthcoming elections. "This was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make," he told the Polish Press Agency (PAP). His announcement was greeted with cheers and a standing ovation by almost all of the party delegates gathered at a party convention. Still, Krzaklewski, once thought to be a threat to incumbent President Aleksander Kwasniewski, stands little chance of winning the elections. A recent opinion poll showed over 60% support for Kwasniewski and only 12% for Krzaklewski. Despite his success at the convention, the leader will have to gain approval from the AWS National Council as an official candidate. Another problem is Krzaklewski has no support of AWS's coalition partner Freedom Union (UW) which would rather see the Sejm speaker Maciej Plazynski stand as a candidate. (Rzeczpospolita, page 1, Gazeta Wyborcza, page 1, Reuters) J.K.