The IPN president saga continues: Polaczek out, next candidate - Kieres

Jerzy Polaczek resigned from running for president of the National Remembrance Institute (IPN), becoming already the third official candidate who failed to win necessary support to become elected. IPN was created with the aim of prosecuting crimes against the Polish nation, as well as giving citizens access to files prepared on them by Communist secret services. However, in order for IPN to become operational, its president must be elected, something which the Sejm has been trying to do for several months now. Polaczek did not receive the necessary support from 3/5 of Sejm deputies, just as Witold Kulesza and Andrzej Chwalba failed to do earlier. There were also a few unofficial candidates named for the post, such as Interior Minister Marek Biernacki. Now Gazeta Wyborcza names another unofficial candidate, Leon Kieres, who is likely to be supported by both ruling coalition groups, the Solidarity Election Action (AWS) and the Freedom Union (UW). (Gazeta Wyborcza, page 4) T.J.