UW disapproves of new political alliance; SKL seen reserved in taking stance

While the Freedom Union (UW) expressed strong disapproval of Andrzej Olechowski's, Maciej Plazynski's and Donald Tusk's initiative to establish a new right-of-center political alliance, the Conservative Peasants Party (SKL), a member of the Solidarity Election Action (AWS), decided to postpone its decision on establishing a federation with the AWS. At the Sunday meeting of the UW's National Committee, Jacek Merkel and Jan Krzysztof Bielecki officially announced their departure from the party. UW leader Bronislaw Geremek said the new initiative was aimed at destroying his party. Meanwhile, despite the fact that the majority of SKL leaders think the party should remain within the AWS, the party postponed making a decision on creating closer ties with the AWS. (Rzeczpospolita, pp.A1, A3)