SLD bigwigs make Oleksy their man for Speaker, freeing the way for Belka

Oleksy was the Speaker in Sejm between 1993-1995, when he enjoyed the majority of parliament's support. However, this time around things are somewhat different and he will have to fight doggedly with Janusz Wojciechowski, the Polish Peasants Party representative, for every vote cast. According to the SLD, Oleksy is a handsome, intelligent man with good oratory skills who would make a good Speaker. In order to perform the role, though, he would have to resign from his posts as deputy Prime Minister and head of the Interior Ministry, which would consequently cause a weakening of the present government. (Gazeta Wyborcza, pp.1, 4) J.J.