Marek Borowski announced Saturday that his party would be leaving the opposition Left and Democrats coalition of leftwing and liberal parties.

Marek Borowski, leader of the Social Democracy of Poland (SdPl), informed Saturday that his party has decided to step out of the left-wing electoral coalition Left and Democrats (LiD), formed with the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), the Labour Union (UP), and till recently the Democratic Party (PD).

Borowski said that SdPl wants to speak with its own voice and regain its independence but described the split as being 'on friendly terms'. He added that SdPl is ready to cooperate with SLD, but only as equals.

The three main reasons for the split given by Marek Borowski are that SLD decided to end the cooperation with the centerist Democratic Party (PD) two weeks ago without informing the other partners, and consequently usurped the right to be the leader of the Polish left.

According to leaders of SLD - the largest party in the coalition - SdPl's decision means that the party has abandoned centre-left voters and took a turn towards the liberal centre.

The deputy speaker of the lower house of parliament, Jerzy Szmajdzinski (SLD), said that SdPl's decision weakens the Polish left. He said that SLD's move to end the cooperation with PD might have been seen as controversial, but that the programmes of the three remaining left-wing parties in the coalition were identical.

The ex.-communist SLD said at the time of the split with the Democratic Party - which includes members from the former Solidarity movement - that the move was over differing policies on the proposed anti-missile shield in Poland and over abortion law.

After a showing of only 13 percent in last autumns general election the SLD decided to re-emphasise its left wing credentials in a bid to win back support. In the 2001 election, SLD, along with the Labour Union, gained 42 percent of the vote and formed a government with 200 out of the 460 seats in the Sejm, the lower house of parliament. (photo: J Szymczuk)