Polish govt under fire after secretly filmed talks [Ruling coalition breaks up]

The Washington Post ^ | Wednesday, September 27, 2006 | Natalia Reiter and Pawel Sobczak

[wolf78]

Polish govt under fire after secretly filmed talks

By Natalia Reiter and Pawel Sobczak Reuters Wednesday, September 27, 2006; 7:05 AM

WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's political crisis deepened on Wednesday after television aired secretly filmed meetings that sparked calls on the prime minister to step down.

The ruling conservatives of Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski are trying to build a new majority coalition after ditching their leftist partners Self-Defense last week in a row over the budget and a decision to send troops to Afghanistan.

But their efforts suffered a blow when TVN television late on Tuesday showed footage of Kaczynski's top aide discussing with an opposition MP what she wanted for switching sides.

A small party regarded as possible kingmakers responded by suspending coalition talks with the governing Law and Justice.

"We are waiting for Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski to explain this," said leader Waldemar Pawlak of the Peasants' Party. "The situation is very serious."

[wolf78]

I have to admit that I find it increasingly difficult to understand Polish politics. Maybe some of the Polish freepers could shine a light on the situation and explain the whole mess from their "insider" point of view.

[Cicero]

Of one thing we can be sure. The Washington ComPost is absolutely slavering at the prospect that these Catholic conservative leaders will fall and be replaced by socialists.

I don't know the details, but this is typical parliamentary maneuvering in a coalition government where no single party has the majority.

[dfwgator]

Anxiously awaiting for your take on this.

[LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget]

hugh and series this brakes up thing ;-)

[gr8eman]

All I can figure is that vodka has more precedence than politics in Poland...but seriously, look at the source of the article and keep in mind that the Polish parliament recently passed a law banning former communists from participating in elections. Just keyword search "Poland" here on FR and you will see all kinds of stories that must make liberals everywhere cringe! My favorite is that they're putting up a statue of Ronald Reagan in Warsaw! It will be interesting to put a video cam on it and bet on how long it will take a leftist or former commie to try to tear it down.

[Rummenigge]

I guess it's a bit of a hens house in the moment... hope the brothers can keep the land on track.

[wolf78]

Of one thing we can be sure. The Washington ComPost is absolutely slavering at the prospect that these Catholic conservative leaders will fall and be replaced by socialists.

Frankly I read the story on a German website and just needed an English source to post, and the Washington Post was the first link that "Google news" offered *LOL. And as to "catholic conservatives", that probably depends on whether you define conservatism in social or economic terms. As far as I know the Civic plaform (opposition) is far more capitalist (flat tax, privatization) than the Kaczynski brothers, who are more or less National Socialists (nota bene: in the literal meaning, not the historical!). At least that's my impression.

I don't know the details, but this is typical parliamentary maneuvering in a coalition government where no single party has the majority.

Being offered money in a hotel room???

[lizol]

Shame, shame, and nothing but shame.

Kaczynskis and their PiS wanted to play Machiavelli, but in fact they catched the bait like a naive child.

And now what? PiS off.

[lizol]

Eastern European ping list

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[lizol]

I really don't like PiS, and am actually fed up with them.

But I'll tell you, that I'm not happy with this what has happened last night at all.

PiS actually wanted to clean up all this mess related to the remains of the old regime (especially influence of former secret services).
I hoped they'd do it, and then they can go.

If they decided to start the war with the "old setup", they should know what kind of response they could expect from the other side.

Their former partner from the coalition - the populist "Self-Defense" (Samoobrona) is full of former communist secret service men.

And PiS decided to make a coalition with them, being aware of that???

[Cicero]

The brothers seem to be openly Christians, who would like to revive Poland's traditional ways, and that's more offensive to the MSM than almost anything you can think of.

No, conservative is as conservative does. I wouldn't expect them to be libertarians. I would see their essential aim as reviving Poland's national spirit after nearly two centuries of Russian and Prussian oppression.

[JerseyHighlander]

You just gave a better summation of events than the first 4 articles on google news on the situation. I didn't understand where the corruption charges where coming from, because it sounded like, as you said, daily politics of minority governments.

Thanks for that.

[lizol]

The thing is, that vox_PL forgot to mention, that Mrs. Beger is a convicted criminal, sentenced by the court for falsifying 1000s of sigantures, which allowed her to run for the Parliament.

Full Polish name of the ruling party is Prawo i Sprawiedliwosc (Law and Justice in English).
Their election banners were full of slogans relating to moral revolution. They vowed to brake down with the old setup and the old methods of making politics.

And now it turns out, that they have nothing against accepting such a person like Mrs Beger (BTW having no education at all, and totally incompetent) a on a high position, if only such a move gives them majority of votes.

[lizol]

It's a real pity I can't post that full dialog in English. Everyone could see that "strong refusal" then.

For those speaking Polish.

http://terazmy.onet.pl/1361937,archiwum.html

http://terazmy.onet.pl/1361938,archiwum.html

[lizol]

You are a really lucky guy, that you have such a strong faith in your political idols - no matter what happens, what they do and what they say.

I must tell I envy you.

[lizol]

BTW - PiS politicians never lie.

By definition. ;-)