Sejm fails to override President's veto of controversial restitution bill

The Sejm has failed to override President Aleksander Kwasniewski's veto of the restitution bill aimed at restoring property confiscated by Poland's former communist leaders. "Respect for the interests of all Poles told the President to veto the bill," said Presidential Office chief Jolanta Szymanek-Deresz. A total of 211 deputies from Solidarity Election Action (AWS), Freedom Union (UW) and Conservative Left Alliance (SKL) voted for the bill to be introduced again. The Presidential veto was supported by the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) and the Polish Peasants Party (PSL). At the same time, organizations of people from whom property was expropriated announced that they would file more than 100 court motions for return of the illegally nationalized property. (Rzeczpospolita, May 26-27, p.B2) A.Z.