Manicki throws his hat into the ring for SLD leadership

His decision was received with mixed feelings by the party. Wiesław Kaczmarek praised Manicki for his creativity and managerial experience while the party's deputy president Andrzej Celiński also spoke with appreciation. Despite this, negative voices were also to be heard. The party's general secretary Marek Dyduch claimed the candidacy was nothing but a joke and that the SLD's leader needs to have a political history in the party. For many Manicki remains a controversial figure thanks to his dismissal of the Hausner plan. However, while he has opposed the plan as OPZZ president, he has indicated that his stance may well change should his candidature be successful. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, A3) M.G.