Lepper steals the show as Sejm passes vote of confidence in new government

After an eventful debate, the Sejm gave the new government a vote of confidence on Friday, with 306 deputies voting in favor and 140 against. The session began with statements in support of the government from members of the ruling coalition. The debate came to life when farmers' leader Andrzej Lepper took the stand and, in his usual fashion, lashed out at Leszek Balcerowicz, ex-Finance Minister and current governor of the National Bank of Poland (NBP). "As long as he keeps the money, things will not change for the better in Poland," Lepper said. However, Lepper really made his mark when, in his capacity as deputy speaker, he took over as chairman of the session. Opening the round of questions to the Prime Minister, he insisted that the questions should not be longer than one minute. When Antoni Stryjewski from the Polish Families Association (LPR) went well past this mark, Lepper thanked him and switched off the microphone. (Gazeta Wyborcza, Oct. 27-28, p. 4) T.J.