Andrzej Lepper,controversial leader of the Self-Defence party, has announced that he will take part in the Senate by-election in the Krosnieńsko-Przemyski province, southern Poland.

"Such by-elections always have a small turnout, around two percent. So a little number of votes might decide victory. It is a big risk, but I am taking it," Lepper told a press conference.

The by-election will take place on 22 June.

Andrzej Lepper is one of Poland's most controversial politicians in Pland. At the beginning of his career, he organized anti-government demonstrations and blocked major roads to direct attention at the problems of Polish farmers.

He became an MP after his party made it to the lower house of the Polish parliament in 2001. In 2006, Self-Defence entered into a coalition with the then ruling Law and Justice (PiS), and Lepper became the deputy PM and minister of agriculture. He was implicated in several scandals, and his party did not reach the threshold necessary to enter parliament in the last general election.

Detective and former MP Krzysztof Rutkowski is also thinking about taking part in the by-eletcion. (mo)