No early elections

As expected, the Polish parliament rejected the motion to dissolve itself and make fresh elections possible. Only Law and Justice (PiS) and the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) were in favor of the motion, but their combined 206 votes were over 100 votes shy of the required number.

Just when everyone thought that the stage was set for PiS' coalition with Self-defense, Civic Platform (PO) offered to bury the hatchet with PiS. Last Thursday the PO leader, Donald Tusk, offered PiS support for bills aimed at boosting the economy and fighting unemployment in Poland. "We propose to work jointly on legislation ... until the autumn," Tusk said in parliament. He added that if the cooperation proved fruitful, a return to closer links between the two parties was possible.

PiS rejected the offer, claiming they don't need another stabilization pact, but a real government coalition. "We still don't see a serious offer for a coalition from Civic Platform," PiS parliamentary whip Przemysław Gosiewski said.

With Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz declaring that he doesn't plan to resign, all doors to earlier elections appear closed. Thus a PiS coalition with Self-defense looms on the horizon. Self-defense's controversial leader, Andrzej Lepper, demands the post of Deputy Prime Minister for himself as well as three ministerial posts for his party - the Ministries of Labor, Agriculture and Enviromental Protection. (Reuters)