SLD tries to wash over Starachowice scandal with party membership review

The Ruling Council of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) has decided to close its Starachowice branch and announced that it would verify all party members right across the country. In the meantime, Włodzimierz Nieporęt became the spokesman for party discipline, and is backed by the personal support of Prime Minister and party chairman Leszek Miller. Not so long ago he stood against Mariusz Łapiński in the election to preside over the Mazowsze regional party. Miller said that he would expect Nieporęt to automatically dismiss everyone who did not understand that the good name of the party depends on them. Miller stressed that if anyone thinks that these are empty words then they are wrong. The PM has used strong words against former SLD deputy Andrzej Jagiełło, denouncing his disgraceful actions. (Rzeczpospolita, July 12-13, pp. A1, A3) M.M.