The National Electoral Commission has overturned an earlier ruling barring presidential candidate Andrzej Lepper standing in the June 20 elections.

Lepper was earlier barred from the elections due to a 2005 slander conviction. But the leader of the Self Defence party and former deputy prime minister appealed the conviction which is still awaiting a ruling in the Appellate  Court. Because the verdict is not final, Lepper can now take part in the presidential elections this summer, the election committee ruled, Tuesday morning.

The National Electoral Commission has apologized to Andrzej Lepper and registered him as the tenth candidate in the elections. (pg)