Politicians expect Poland to take tougher line on Belarus :: Charter'97 :: News

Belarusian politicians said Poland is likely to take a tougher stance on Belarus following center-right parties` victory in the Sunday`s parliamentary elections. According to early returns, the Law and Justice party gained 27.9 percent and its ally Civic Platform received 24.7 percent of the vote.

"With rightists controlling the parliament, Europe`s voice will be heard louder in Poland and the Polish authorities` policies toward Minsk will be tougher and more pragmatic," commented Anatoly Lebedko, leader of the United Civic Party (UCP) in an interview with BelaPAN.

Sergei Gaidukevich, a member of the House of Representatives and the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, said he expects Poland`s relations with Belarus to become more pragmatic starting next year. He stressed that Polish center-right parties are more responsive to the position of Washington and Brussels, both strongly critical of the Belarusian government.
Sergei Kalyakin, chairman of the Belarusian Party of Communists, said he expects Poland`s position toward Belarus to become straightforward and uncompromising. "In this situation it will be even more difficult for the Belarusian leadership to find a common language with the Polish authorities," he noted.