SLD says Belka's backing for Hausner could spark party 'cold war'

Belka said that despite Hausner's efforts to form a new central political party, he is not considering dismissing Hausner from the post. "I cannot imagine that such a reason could give the grounds to submit a motion in the Sejm to dismiss Hausner. I would treat such a motion as a step towards a vote of no confidence for the government," the Prime Minister said. The SLD suggested the speech might initiate a cold war between the party and the government. "He is sabotaging us, so that none of us will submit such a motion," said one SLD politician. Just hours after Belka publicly backed Hausner, SLD head Józef Oleksy announced that despite the lack of support for him, the party would not demand that Hausner steps down. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A3) A.K.