Wróbel wins power struggle, Orlen and Lotos to merge

On Thursday, Gierej said in an interview with Gazeta Wyborcza that the charges of mismanagement made against Wróbel are very serious. Soon afterwards, Treasury Minister Zbigniew Kaniewski made a move to oust Gierej by recalling four members of Nafta's supervisory board. "This [action by Kaniewski] is immoral and discredits him. The minister is protecting compromised persons," said Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) deputy and former Treasury Minister Wiesław Kaczmarek. Kaniewski also announced that Orlen will be merged with Lotos, the second largest domestic oil firm, a solution long favored by Wróbel and opposed by Gierej. Wróbel is said to have the support of the Treasury Minister, the President and Jan Kulczyk, the country's richest man and one of Orlen's key shareholders. (Gazeta Wyborcza, Mar. 13-14, p. 29) T.J.