New revelations concerning the assassination attempt on John Paul II and sales of antidepressants are growing rapidly in Poland.

Press reviewed by Danuta Isler

Less than a year after the assassination attempt on the late Pope John Paul II the American authorities assumed that it was carried out on the inspiration of the Kremlin – reports Polska daily. This is the main conclusion of the documents declassified by the CIA and revealed for the first time in Polish media. According to Polska daily, the 1985 report is very clear in stating that “the Bulgarian military intelligence carried out an attempt assassination attempt on the order of the Soviet Army.” CIA investigation also shows how KGB tried to cover up the truth about the assassination attempt on the late Pope – adds the paper writing that the revealed documents shed a new light on the first moments after the tragic event as well as on the investigation carried out on the matter. 

“Depression of Polish women and men” is the front-page headline from Rzeczpospolita daily. According to the data gathered by IMS Health, sales of antidepressants in Poland are growing rapidly with an estimated one million Poles already taking them compared with two million Poles suffering from diabetes. Doctors in Poland also point to the growing demand for such medications – in 2001 over 10 million antidepressants were sold while four years later the number increased by almost two million. “Antidepressants became necessities” writes the paper in the article which is accompanied by a graphic presentation of the pros and cons of taking antidepressants to treat about 40 different conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anorexia and bulimia and various phobias as well. 

“Consumer insolvency law will help only several hundreds of Poles a year” writes Dziennik in an article on the new law allowing consumers to declare bankruptcy if they are unable to pay their debts as a result of circumstances beyond their control. Over million Poles are already struggling with unpaid debts but, according to experts quoted by the daily, declaring insolvency won’t be easy as many conditions will have to be fulfilled. Global economic crisis and mass lay-offs will not be regarded by the court as a reason for filing.

“I will become a guard” is the front page headline from Super Express tabloid which publishes an interview with Lech Wałęsa following his announcement that he would refuse to participate in any commemorative events, give back his medals and distinctions and even leave Poland, in protest against a biographical publication of a 24-year-old historian attached to the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), which attempts to revise parts of his life history. Sixty-six-year-old Solidarity icon says in the tabloid that he is tired of constantly defending himself against “hits below the waist” and confirms that he is seriously considering leaving Poland.