SLD Secretary General calls for inquiry into Łapiński and Nauman

Following recent articles in Newsweek and Rzeczpospolita presenting the head of the National Health Fund (NFZ) Aleksander Nauman and former health minister Mariusz Łapiński as the central point in a network of close informal ties between business and politics, the Secretary General of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) said yesterday that the allegations should be investigated by the Internal Security Agency (ABW) and the Prosecutor's Office. After his meeting with the authorities of SLD and the Prime Minister, Łapiński called off a press conference yesterday and said he would only issue an announcement. Nonetheless, he accused the media of attacking the SLD. In a more conciliatory spirit, SLD spokesman Jerzy Wenderlich said he hoped Łapiński's reply would be written in a more peaceful tone to satisfy the party as well as appease the media. (Rzeczpospolita, p. 1; www.polskieradio.pl) J.K.