Olechowski's team accused of duplicity as row breaks out with PiS

Politicians tempers are beginning to comically run hot as local government elections draw near. Two candidates running for the Mayor of Warsaw, Andrzej Olechowski from the Civic Platform (PO) and Lech Kaczynski from Law and justice (PiS), had a public row yesterday, despite the fact that they are running in a coalition. "Statements by the former Justice Minister do not differ much from the ones we hear from Self-Defense leader Andrzej Lepper," said Olechowski as part of a scathing attack on his coalition partner, but at the same time rival for Mayor. "Olechowski is closer to Lepper than I am, particularly when we compare their curriculum vitas" replied Kaczynski. He added that he will not be squeezed out of the election. Kaczynski was referring to last week's court verdict which declared him guilty of slandering Bartimpex president Aleksander Gudzowaty. "The ruling is extremely unjust and politically motivated," said PiS spokesman Adam Bielan. Lawyers defending the Polish millionaire came from the Smoktunowicz & Falandysz law firm, where Smoktunowicz is a Senator and at the same time a member of Olechowski's election team. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 6) A.Z.