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Polish coalition crisis defused | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A junior coalition partner has said it will remain in Poland's conservative government, defusing what had appeared to be an escalating crisis. | |
The pledge by the Self-Defence Party came despite the dismissal of its leader, Deputy Prime Minister Andrzej Lepper, from the cabinet on Monday. | |
He said Self-Defence was "staying in the coalition, conditionally". | |
He demanded proof, by Friday, for claims that he was linked to a huge agricultural corruption scandal. | |
His dismissal by Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski - prompted by the scandal claims - had raised the possibility of an early election. | |
It is alleged that millions of dollars was paid in bribes to redesignate agricultural land for commercial use. Mr Lepper - who was also agriculture minister - denies any involvement. | |
He has ruled out returning to the government. | |
"We want evidence against me presented by Friday - recordings, allegedly tapes, conversations - please present them to public opinion," Mr Lepper said. | |
Pressure on government | Pressure on government |
Earlier, the main opposition parties Civic Platform and Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) submitted motions to dissolve parliament. | |
The prime minister said he was not afraid of an early electionBut correspondents say the motions are unlikely to be put to a vote before September, as deputies will shortly go on their summer break. | |
Prime Minister Kaczynski's Law and Justice Party narrowly won parliamentary elections in 2005, but has faced difficulties in implementing its right-wing economic reform programme. | Prime Minister Kaczynski's Law and Justice Party narrowly won parliamentary elections in 2005, but has faced difficulties in implementing its right-wing economic reform programme. |
Self Defence has 46 deputies in the 460-seat Sejm, the lower house of the parliament. Without them, the government can count on the support of only 203 deputies - far short of the 231 needed for a majority. | Self Defence has 46 deputies in the 460-seat Sejm, the lower house of the parliament. Without them, the government can count on the support of only 203 deputies - far short of the 231 needed for a majority. |
Mr Lepper was also sacked from the government last year in a dispute over the budget - but his party was welcomed back later to shore up the coalition. | Mr Lepper was also sacked from the government last year in a dispute over the budget - but his party was welcomed back later to shore up the coalition. |
His latest dismissal came after the Anti-Corruption Office, a government body, arrested two men in connection with the agricultural corruption scandal. | His latest dismissal came after the Anti-Corruption Office, a government body, arrested two men in connection with the agricultural corruption scandal. |
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