Andrzej Lepper announced over the weekend that if the Constitutional Tribunal outlaws his party, Self-Defence, he will leave the ruling coalition, precipitating earlier elections.

Meanwhile the Self-Defence leader has formally requested the registration of a new party, “Andrzej Lepper’s Self-Defence”.

Mr.Lepper says the move was dictated by the many “self-defences” cropping up around the country and not by the probe by the Constitutional Tribunal on irregularities in the party.

However, a modified new Self-Defence would also stand to lose financial support from the state budget, which is only due to those parties which took part in the last parliamentary elections.