A national newspaper reports Wednesday morning that leader of the Law and Justice (PiS) party Jaroslaw Kaczynski may stand down from his post in the autumn.
The report in Rzeczpospolita, based on unnamed sources from within the party, follows an open letter by a Law and Justice affiliated member of the European parliament calling for an end of the aggressive rhetoric employed by Kaczynski since his defeat in the presidential election on July 4.
Politicians from the party told the newspaper that standing down as leader - but keeping the title of honorary chairman - would give Kaczynski more time to concentrate on the investigation into the Smolensk plane disaster in April which killed his twin brother Lech. A new leadership team would then be in charged of the campaign for local government elections in the autumn.
The newspaper says, however, that rumours and gossip within the party are contradictory – with some saying Kaczynski will stand down in favour of MEP Zbigniew Ziobro, a favourite with many of the party faithful since his term as justice minister in the Law and Justice-led government 2005-07.
Others tell Rzeczpospolita that the rumours could be being spread by Kaczynski himself, in a Machiavellian tactic hoping to smoke out potential rivals from the more moderate wing of the party, including Joanna Kluzik-Rostkowska, who was disappointed not to be selected as deputy leader of the party earlier this year. (pg)
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