Oleksy-gate?
The political career of Józef Oleksy, a former Prime Minister and one of the Democratic Left Alliance's (SLD) most prominent figures, appears to be over after a tape was revealed in which he refers to his party colleagues as "a bunch of losers and swindlers." Oleksy was recorded while having a conversation with businessman Aleksander Gudzowaty by the latter's bodyguards.
In the recording, the former PM makes serious allegations against key left-wing figures. He raised doubts about the sources of former President Kwaniewski's wealth, claiming "no matter how hard he worked there's no way he could have saved as much as he needed [for all the real-estate he bought]." He also accused Marek Borowski of manipulating campaign funds when he ran for President in 2005. Oleksy also made critical comments about other key SLD figures, including Leszek Miller, another ex-Prime Minister, and his son, who, according to Oleksy, is looking to pay $1 (zł.2.9) million for a house.
Kwaniewski denied the allegations, claiming that he can explain the source of "every single złoty" of his wealth. The former President called Oleksy (his longtime friend) "a cretin and a traitor." And, he added, "It feels like the funeral of Oleksy as a public person."
Oleksy apologized to his colleagues, but claimed that the tapes had been faked with the intention of dividing the left wing. He also claimed that it was an attack on Kwaniewski for his recent critique of the current government's foreign policy. But the explanations fell on deaf ears. "There is no place within [SLD] for Jozef Oleksy," said party leader Wojciech Olejniczak, another target of the former PM's allegations.
