Splits emerge in United Left coalition

“It was supposed to be a great unification of the Left, but it is a deal between [SLD party leader] Leszek Miller and [Your Movement party leader] Janusz Palikot," Wojciech Filemonowicz, chairman of the Polish Social Democracy party (SP) said.

Representatives of eight smaller left-wing parties that had held discussions under the umbrella of the trade union OPZZ announced on Wednesday a rebellion in the nascent ZL coalition.

ZL is made up of the Miller's Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), Your Movement (TR), the Greens and the Union of Labour (UP). They agreed in early July to take part in this year’s election under the joint banner of the United Left, alongside Palikot's Movement (RP).

The rebels said they oppose the domination of the largest parties, SLD and TR, in setting electoral lists.

“We say ‘no’ to diktat and blackmail by the two largest parties,” Filemonowicz went on.

Other rebels include the Freedom and Equality movement, the Polish Party of Labour, the Polish Left, the Party of the Regions, the Movement for Social Justice and the Labour Union.

The White-Reds, founded in late June by Grzegorz Napieralski (earlier in the SLD) and Andrzej Rożenek (former spokesperson for TR) could join up with the new renagades, Napieralski hinted.

“We're going tomorrow to meet with the other parties. We are optimistic,” he said.

The breakaways appealed to the SLD either to join them and create a coalition on a partnership basis, or that there would be another left-wing election list for the ballot in late October.

As a grouping, the ZL must win eight percent of the vote to gain parliamentary representation in the 25 October election. Polls give the grouping between four and seven percent. (jh/rk)