Former leftwing president of Poland Aleksander Kwasniewski has said that the Democratic Left Alliance [SLD] could have to enter into coalition with the current senior government party, Civic Platform after elections in the autumn.

“If Civic Platform doesn’t get enough seats, and the [current junior coalition partner] Polish Peasant‘s Party (PSL) doesn’t get enough votes […] the SLD may be a necessary partner," Kwasniewski, so far the only president of Poland to be elected to a second term since the fall of communism, told the PAP news agency.

Currently SLD are third in opinion polls, ahead of PSL but behind Law and Justice (PiS), who in turn are someway behind Civic Platform.

On being asked whether Kwasniewski is considering a return to politics - his second term as president ended in 2005 - Kwasniewski said, "I can not imagine a return to politics,” but said he would consider taking up a position in one of the major international structures. (pg)