SLD looking for leaders
In what is seen as a last-ditch effort to regain public support before general elections in September, Józef Oleksy, head of the deeply unpopular ruling Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), and six other party leaders resigned last week. The SLD, winners of 41 percent of the vote in 2001's parliamentary elections, is struggling to gain enough support to win any seats in parliament at all this year, after several scandals sullied its image.
"In view of our party's internal state of apathy and anxiety, how heavily our past errors have weighed on the party, facing a sharp clash with the right ... I have proposed that leaders of our party resign," Oleksy told a news conference. The party is now searching for new leadership, but members ready to lead the SLD into elections it could lose in a landslide are few and far-between.
Surveys show the center-right Civic Platform (PO) and Law and Justice (PiS) parties look set to win the parliamentary elections and form the next government, though strong support for populist, anti-EU forces may limit their majority.
"It is very naive to think that a change of packaging will help the party several months ahead of elections," said sociologist Kazimierz Kik.
The left's chances to hold on to the presidential palace took a hit two weeks ago when the SLD's top candidate, Sejm speaker Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz, decided not to run. PiS's popular Warsaw Mayor, Lech Kaczyński, leads the race to replace President Aleksander Kwaśniewski. (Reuters)
"In view of our party's internal state of apathy and anxiety, how heavily our past errors have weighed on the party, facing a sharp clash with the right ... I have proposed that leaders of our party resign," Oleksy told a news conference. The party is now searching for new leadership, but members ready to lead the SLD into elections it could lose in a landslide are few and far-between.
Surveys show the center-right Civic Platform (PO) and Law and Justice (PiS) parties look set to win the parliamentary elections and form the next government, though strong support for populist, anti-EU forces may limit their majority.
"It is very naive to think that a change of packaging will help the party several months ahead of elections," said sociologist Kazimierz Kik.
The left's chances to hold on to the presidential palace took a hit two weeks ago when the SLD's top candidate, Sejm speaker Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz, decided not to run. PiS's popular Warsaw Mayor, Lech Kaczyński, leads the race to replace President Aleksander Kwaśniewski. (Reuters)
