Government speaker Pawel Gras denied media reports speculating that Poland would withdraw the candidature of Jerzy Buzek to the post of the president of the European Parliament in exchange for Italy’s support of Warsaw's candidate to the Council of Europe, Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz. Such a suggestion was expressed on Saturday by PM Silvio Berlusconi who said during a press conference in Rome that the Italian candidate for the post, Mario Mauro, stands a big chance of getting the job. He also added that Poland would have to withdraw its candidate to get Italy’s vote.

Speaking for Polish Radio this morning Gras said denied reports that a deal regarding the post of the EP president has been reached . 9:00 Gras
No deal has been reached regarding support for Buzek in exchange for Cimoszewicz or Cimoszewicz in exchange for Buzek. We reiterated our support for both candidatures, that is for the former PM Wlodzimiesz Cimoszewicz as the head of the Council of Europe and former PM Jerzy Buzek  as the president of the European Parliament.

According to Gras, Jerzy Buzek will be elected the head of the European Parliament if two conditions are fulfilled. Firstly, if the European People’s Party wins the June elections throughout Europe and becomes the strongest faction in the European Parliament; and secondly, if over 20 members of the ruling Civic Platform get elected to the European Parliament.

Gras also added that information about the support for Jerzy Buzek's candidature of the countries of central and northern Europe as well as - as he put it - two big countries of the old EU - is  "close to the truth". (di)