POLAND: Poland's new government may call fresh elections rather than form a coalition with populist parties that oppose key economic reforms and the adoption of the euro, senior members of the ruling Law and Justice party said yesterday.
The prospect of a fresh parliamentary ballot, just two months after the conservative government took power, emerged as Law and Justice (PiS) struggled to gather enough support to push its 2006 budget through the legislature.
But analysts said repeat elections were not a risk-free option for PiS, warning that while they could weaken the left-wing Self-Defence party and the nationalist League of Polish Families, they might also strengthen Civic Platform, the main opposition force.
Civic Platform (PO) finished a close second to PiS in autumn voting for a new government and president, but has refused to join a coalition with its rival, citing a lack of commitment to economic liberalisation and a reduction in bloated state spending.
"We still have hope that we could find a stable majority in this parliament," said senior PiS member Przemyslaw Gosiewski. "But if this is not possible, there will be fresh elections."
The tension in parliament has been sharpened by PiS's need to find backers for its 2006 budget, amid rancour with PO and reluctance to ally itself with Self-Defence or the League of Polish Families.
A senior PiS source said yesterday that a coalition with Self-Defence and its fiery Eurosceptic leader, Andrzej Lepper, could be bad for stability and Poland's image abroad.
"I rule this out," the source told Reuters news agency. "Law and Justice is aware that this is a dangerous path. The party is very determined to hold early elections. I view the chances of early polls at 90 per cent now."
But Adam Lipinski, the deputy chief of PiS, admitted that the party's supremacy could be jeopardised by fresh elections. "There is a risk that the results of a new election would not repeat the 2005 polls," he said. "Party members' views on this are not yet clear."
Poland's new president, PiS member Lech Kaczynski, postponed a meeting with PO leaders yesterday after they asked him to clarify his views on a new ballot.
