Sejm Speaker Plazynski quits RS AWS, disappointed with its inability to reform

Sejm speaker Maciej Plazynski, viewed by many as the primary challenger to Marian Krzaklewski's position in the Solidarity Election Action (AWS), yesterday quit the AWS Social Movement (RS AWS) party. "This is a responsible move. The speaker accepted a function in another structure, which stands in opposition to decisions of RS AWS," said Krzaklewski. He was referring to Plazynski's post as leader of the AWS Federation, a break-off faction of AWS. In a letter to Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek, head of RS AWS, Plazynski said that the party is largely responsible for the loss of electorate by AWS. He also expressed disappointment with the fact that AWS turned out to be unable to reform itself and avoid a presidential electons defeat. Plazynski also wrote that AWS is now only interested in maintaining the status quo and keeping its political influence and posts, a strategy which the Sejm speaker deems very short-sighted. (Zycie, pp.1, 6, Gazeta Wyborcza, p.4) M.M.