SLD leader promises to resign if he fails to regain public support for the party

Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) leader Krzysztof Janik announced that he would step down from his post in December if the party did not manage to gain 14-15% support of the public by that time. "I have pledged to carry out a contract and I will try do it," said Janik. Other prominent members of SLD are skeptical about his pledge as he had made similar statements in the past. "One should not prejudge anything on his statements," said SLD deputy president Katarzyna Piekarska. Jerzy Szmajdziński, another SLD member of parliament, went on to say that there is no chance of changing the party leader if he passed a vote of confidence only two days ago. However, "The party needs to bring in a new generation of politicians," said Józef Oleksy. Another party insider claimed that the next leader could be Wojciech Olejniczak. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, A3) M.M.