Samoobrona deputies condemned as Sejm votes to strip Lepper of immunity

The parliamentary immunity of controversial Samoobrona leader Andrzej Lepper was lifted on Friday, after the Sejm voted 281 in favor of the motion and 87 against. Prior to the vote Lepper accused National Bank of Poland (NBP) governor Leszek Balcerowicz of following plans that would turn Poland into a "new Bolivia, Peru or Argentina." He also criticized President Aleksander Kwasniewski for paying back the country's foreign debt ahead of schedule. After the vote, representatives of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), Civic Platform (PO), the Polish Peasants' Party (PSL), Labor Union (UP) and Law and Justice (PiS) issued an official statement condemning the behavior of Samoobrona representatives, accusing them of threatening the basic pri nciples of parliamentary democracy. The decision to lift Lepper's parl iamentary immunity clears the way for him to face charges of slander, relating to accusations he made regarding corruption among politicians. The prosecutor's office is expected to file official charges this week. (Gazeta Wyborcza, Jan. 26-27, p. 4; Reuters) M.T.K.