SLD considers nature of future government as PO rules out cooperation

Latest figures suggest that the Democratic Left Alliance-Labor Union (SLD-UP) coalition has probably won 216 seats in the Sejm, short of the 231 needed for an overall majority. Sources quoted by Gazeta Wyborcza say that in this situation, the coalition is likely to choose to form a minority government, an idea supported by the majority of SLD leaders. At a meeting yesterday, only two party officials supported a proposition to create a coalition with the Polish Peasants Party (PSL). Others expressed skepticism, referring back to the many conflicts that beset the last SLD-PSL government, formed in 1993. Senior SLD-UP leaders Leszek Miller, Marek Pol and Marek Borowski are planning to hold talks about the formation of a future go vernment with representatives of other parties that won seats in the Sejm. However, leaders of Civic Platform (PO) have already said they would be reluctant to enter into an SLD-led government. "We're gathering strength in the opposition," said PO deputy leader Janusz Lewandowski. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 1) A.Z.