Poland’s political crisis deepened on Wednesday after a television broadcast of secretly filmed meetings sparked calls for 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-Defence 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 aired a film clip showing Kaczynski’s top aide discussing with an opposition MP what she wanted in return for switching sides, including possible financial assistance.
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.”
Law and Justice officials dismissed accusations of wrongdoing and said Kaczynski, who came to power last year vowing to weed out corruption in the ex-communist European Union member, would not resign.
He was due to address later on Wednesday.
”This is a provocation and the prime minister will want to address the issue,” said party official Przemyslaw Gosiewski.
East European Turmoil
The latest political turmoil follows anti-government protests in fellow EU newcomer Hungary, provoked by a leaked tape in which Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany admitted he had lied to the electorate.
In a report on new EU members on Wednesday, the World Bank warned that political uncertainty and fragmentation had allowed populists to gain influence in the region, hampering reform.
TVN showed what it said were two meetings between Law and Justice deputy leader Adam Lipinski and Self-Defence MP Renata Beger, who has said she was considering backing the government.
He appeared to hold out the prospect of a government post for Beger and also suggested possible financial help for internal party fines Self-Defence defectors may have to pay.
Leader Donald Tusk of the largest opposition party, the centre-right Civic Platform, accused the government of corruption and said it should resign.
Law and Justice needs the support of the Peasants’ Party and some Self-Defence and independent MPs to secure a new majority.
”If we fail to build a majority the opposition should create a government. If we see no such move then we will think what to do next,” Gosiewski, the Law and Justice official, said.
Beger said she had agreed with TVN to film the meetings with Lipinski secretly. In one part, Lipinski asked her what she and other Self-Defence deputies expected for backing the government.
”Secretary of State in the agriculture ministry, yes?” he asked. ”You know, this is not a problem at all … ” — Reuters