Politics In Brief: Józef Oleksy; Henryk M.; Marek Belka still 30 votes short

Prime Minister Leszek Miller announced that for the time being the responsibilities of the Interior Ministry will be handled by Jerzy Szmajdziński, the head of the Defense Ministry. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 4) ... Former Interior Minister Henryk M. was remanded in custody for a month yesterday by the district court in Bydgoszcz in relation to financial irregularities that occurred during his period of tenure at the GKS Wybrzeże sports club in Gdańsk. According to the prosecutor, he defrauded some zł.2 million from the club's funds. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A6) ... Krzysztof Janik, the head of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), has announced that his party is still 30 votes short of forming a ruling government headed by Marek Belka. Negotiations with potential Belka supporters are currently in progress. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A4) A.K.