Politics In Brief; SLD backs down over medical fees; Kurczuk; Self-Defense

Economy Minister Jerzy Hausner and the Democratic Left Alliance have withdrawn from ideas of introducing fees for patients receiving medical services just four days before the project was due to be read in the Sejm. The SLD abandoned its plans as it felt it would not receive Parliamentary backing for the idea. (Rzeczpospolita p. A1) ... Former justice minister Grzegorz Kurczuk has become the leader of the Lublin region SLD. He stood for election to the post unopposed. Asked about his program, Kurczuk said he wants to reshape the SLD to give it a new unambiguous left-wing image and to ensure that the SLD is among the first league of political parties. (Rzeczpospolita p. A4) ... The National Election Commission refused to make a decision on whether to ban Self-Defense candidates from wearing their red & white ties in or near polling stations in the Euro election. Instead, Chairmen of polling station at the local level will have to decide whether this Self-Defense symbol signifies a breaking of the election law. (Gazeta Wyborcza p. 4) M.G.