SLD Parliamentary leader sacked over pretext of supporting Lepper

It is very likely that in January, Jerzy Jaskiernia will not longer be the leader of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) Parliamentary Club. The public reason given is his support for controversial Self-Defense leader Andrzej Lepper to become a member of the Rywin investigation committee. The leadership of the SLD today was also discussing the alleged participation of Jaskiernia in the so-called Gambling Law amendment scandal. According to Rzeczpospolita, Jaskiernia simply crossed the line. If he is sacked, then Krzysztof Janik is tipped to replace him, if Janik resigned from being Interior Minister. On Thursday, President Aleksander Kwaśniewski also denied allegations that he would "prepare and organize" civic lists to the European Parliament. However, he would consider expressing his support for such list of candidates. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, A6) M.M.