Parliamentary pact possible for PO and PiS parties in 2005 elections

The Civic Platform (PO) and Law and Justice party (PiS) plan to join forces in the 2005 parliamentary elections. According to one of PO's founders, Maciej Plazynski, the most desirable future for the two parties is the creation of a strong center-right bloc, which would be created immediately after the local elections. Moreover, such a party should be successful in the 2005 parliamentary elections. According to Plazynski, the concept enjoys firm backing from both sides. However, in the view of PiS President Lech Kaczynski, it is not yet decided whether the joint bloc would mean the creation of a new party or just a pact between PO and PiS, as is currently the case with local elections. According to Kaczynski, the declaration of Plazynski is more a will to continue close co-operation than a proclamation of creating one party. "We decided long ago that after the local elections we would conduct a series of program talks," the leader of PiS told Zycie. He also added that in many respects the two parties are very similar, especially when it comes to fighting corruption and improving the condition of the state. However, their economic programs differ greatly. (Zycie, p. 5) M.M.