Lepper's removal as speaker marked by attack on "corrupt" politicians

Andrzej Lepper was yesterday removed by the Sejm from the position of deputy speaker. In a dramatic exchange broadcast live on television, the Samoobrona leader defended himself by claiming he had lost his position because he was trying to bring the plight of Poland's poor to the attention of the Sejm. He claimed that almost all the country's politicians were guilty of "robbing the country", and were responsible for the economic crisis and poverty. Lepper then went on to accuse a number of politicians from Civic Platform (PO) and the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) of taking bribes. He mentioned five politicians by name, saying he had evidence showing they had accepted bribes ranging from $50,000 to $2 million. At one point Sejm speaker Marek Borowski intervened to warn Lepper of the possible legal consequences of making such accusations. (Gazeta Wyborcza on-line edition; Zycie, p. 1) P.W.