As local politicians meet today to decide whether to give President Lech Kaczynski honorary citizenship of the historic city of Krakow, the head of state himself has said he doesn’t want the honour.

In a letter to the council, President Kaczynski writes that though honoured by the proposal the move should be postponed due the poisonous atmosphere the idea it has created.

The call for President Kaczynski to be made honorary citizen was first proposed by local politicians from the Law and Justice party but is being fiercely opposed by Civic Platform councillors.

The President says in his letter that "both because of historical and patriotic reasons, as well as because of its unique historic qualities,” Krakow has always been an exceptional place for him.

Later in the letter Lech Kaczyński says that as president he has had, on several occasions, an opportunity to visit Krakow, participating in state ceremonies and meetings of international importance. But he asked for the title of honorary citizen to be granted at some future date after the controversy has blown over.

Civic Platform politicians, opposing the idea, have accused President of Krakow Jacek Majchrowski, who supports it, of striking a political deal over the issue, a precursor to a wider alliance between the two opposition parties in parliament against the the government. (pg)