Parliamentary elections look set for September after failed dissolution vote

The deputies from the opposition parties failed to collect 307 votes necessary to pass a resolution calling for an early end to the current parliament, although the motion was supported by two deputies from the ruling Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), including the Sejm Speaker Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz. The leaders of opposition parties attacked the SLD and the governments of Leszek Miller and Marek Belka for the lack of economic reforms, the collapse of health sector and using the secret services for their own interests. SLD leader Krzysztof Janik declared: "There are no reasons to dissolve the Sejm except for the opposition's wish to assume power." The result of the voting means that the parliamentary elections will most probably take place in September. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, A2; Gazeta Wyborcza, pp. 1,4) E.B.