Despite the removal of Andrzej Lepper, the leader of Self defense, from the government, on suspicion of corruption, his party will stay with the Law and Justice coalition and so avoid an immediate general election.

Self-Defense MEP Ryszard Czarnecki said on Polish Radio today that the present government, despite its faults and weaknesses, is valuable for Poland.

“This government has to be defended,” he said on Sygnały Dnia on Polish Radio 1. He didn’t mention whether he would step out of Self-Defense, but emphasized that the party shouldn’t leave the coalition.

According to Mr. Czarnecki, the present coalition should not be weakened, because if Self-Defense left, liberals from Civic Platform (PO) and the left from the Left and Democrats (LiD) will come to power.

The MEP underlined that he wants the whole Self-Defense party to stay in the coalition. “All this time I’m trying to persuade Adrzej Lepper to join the light side of the force and defend this government, which is good for Poland,” said the MEP.

Lepper, previously deputy prime minister and agricultural minister, had tried to persuade his party to withdraw from the coalition, but a majority of the 46 parliamentarians decided to stay with the government and so avoid an election which could see them wiped out of the Sejm.