Power plays
"European Democratic Standards" (Europejskie Standardy Demokratyczne) was the name of a conference held last Thursday by former Presidents of Poland Aleksander Kwaniewski and Lech Wałęsa, as well as the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrzej Olechowski.
The organizers declared to have met "in defense of democracy," which they claimed was threatened by the activities of the present government.
The participants severely criticized the government, saying that it had created a "second-class democracy," and an "atmosphere of constant suspicion." However, the group stressed that their gathering together at the conference did not mark the formation of a new political party or movement, but simply a "meeting of citizens."
Wałęsa and Kwaniewski declared that they share a common voice, despite the political divisions and past histories.
Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński called the accusations made against his government "ridiculous." Meanwhile, Poland's main opposition party, Civic Platform (PO), conspicuously ignored the event.
A scoop by internet news portal tvn24.pl cast a shadow over Kwaniewski's appearance at the meeting, however. A day before the conference, the portal reported that his foundation, Amicus Europae, had received almost zł.900,000 from Wiktor Pinczuk, the son-in-law of former Ukrainian president Leonid Kuczma. The news caused a stir, and incited speculation as to Kwaniewski's relationships with Ukrainian oligarchs.
Still, the political left considers the name of Aleksander Kwasniewski as a solid brand, and calls for him to stand for Prime Minister have been heard.
