President offers himself at left-wing mediator after general election

"If I will be needed as a patron, but not the leader, not a person entangled in any party, I will be glad to help," he declared. The President also revealed that he believes that presidential candidate supported by the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz, will testify before the Sejm Commission investigating the Orlen affair, after his surprising first meeting with the Commission where he declined to answer any questions but demanded the dismissal of almost all of the Commission's members. However, Kwaśniewski fears that the questioning of several witnesses might turn into a political show ahead of the upcoming parliamentary ballot. "But I am sure the Sejm Speaker can handle them," said Kwaśniewski, adding that Cimoszewicz will most probably will not have much to say in the case concerning the Orlen affair. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A4) A.K.