Sejm passes restrictive restitution law, with Presidential veto almost certain
In a vote of 331 for and 101 against, the Sejm yesterday limited the number
of people eligible for restitution in the form of either property refund or
financial compensation. Only people having Polish residency status on Dec.
31,1999 would be entitled to restitution, and not simply everyone who was a
Polish citizen at the time their property was confiscated. The Sejm also
limited the number of heirs who would be able to vindicate their rights:
only the dispossessed persons spouse, children or grandchildren. Mainly
Parliament members of Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), Polish Peasants Party
(PSL) and some of Solidarity Election Action (AWS) voted against the Senate
modification. (Rzeczpospolita, p.A1). M.T.
