Lepper: only the coalition can maintain rapid growth

It needs to rule for at least five terms," said Deputy Prime Minister Andrzej Lepper to 1,000 delegates during Self-Defense's annual congress at the weekend. The congress was a special occasion in more than one respect too, as it marked both the 15th anniversary of Self-Defense and Lepper's 53rd birthday. During the congress, Lepper was re-elected as leader with 99% of votes and just three delegates voting against him. In his speech, Lepper defended his decision to enter the government and praised his own record at the Ministry of Agriculture and his coalition partners. He said that the idea of the 4th Republic, while it was devised by the Kaczyński brothers, in fact amounted to implementing his party's program. The little criticism Lepper directed at Law and Justice concerned Poland's involvement in the Iraq war and PiS's reluctance to back a major biofuels program. (Dziennik, p. 4; Gazeta Wyborcza p. 6; Rzeczpospolita p. A 4) R.M.