Łapiński and Nauman expelled from SLD

Former Health Minister and Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) head for Mazovia Mariusz Łapiński has been expelled from the party, along with former National Health Fund President Aleksander Nauman, by an in internal party court, SLD authorities announced yesterday. The verdict carries no legal weight and Łapiński intends to appeal against the decision. The court's judgement is the result of last Friday's physical assault on Newsweek reporter Adam Tuchlińksi. According to the journalist, as well as reports in Trybuna, the attack was instigated by Nauman and Łapiński, who objected to being photographed. Party Court Chair Elżbieta Piela-Mielczarek told reporters that the court had found that the two officials, "failed to maintain the good name of the party". (www.onet.pl) A.C.