The SLD National Programme Convention began with a political and programme offensive. One of its elements was the adoption of the Alliance's Programme Constitution, "A Democratic and Social Poland," as well as the so-called European package, which specifies the Constitution's provisions in the social sphere. Convention participants sharply criticised the actions of the ruling coalition. According to SLD chairman and Deputy Marshal Wojciech Olejniczak, the government is moving towards restricting democracy. Meanwhile, Alliance Secretary General Grzegorz Napieralski even announced that ministers such as Macierewicz and Ziobro—"sooner or later must stand before the State Tribunal."
Napieralski also declared that he would do everything to clarify cases in which, in his view, the prosecution, police and government-controlled special services had been used in violation of the law, above all the case of the suicide of former SLD MP and Minister of Construction Barbara Blida. Wojciech Olejniczak stressed that the Democratic Left Alliance wants to win the 2009 elections in order to "clean up after PiS."
In his view, the left is capable of rebuilding a state that is friendly towards and trusts its citizens. The Alliance's Programme Constitution is intended to serve this purpose; its main pillars are the protection of the poorest, social affairs, education and European integration. The Deputy Marshal of the Sejm announced that SLD would demand an increase in the minimum wage to 1,400 zlotys and the annual indexation of disability and retirement pensions. He also supported increasing healthcare spending to 6% of GDP. The SLD National Programme Convention granted a vote of confidence to both the National Executive Board and the National Executive Committee.
Kwaśniewski at the Head of LiD
The guest on the second day of the SLD National Convention was former president Aleksander Kwaśniewski. "An important political movement—the Left and Democrats movement—has been born in Poland," the former president said. He declared that he agreed to become chairman of the LiD Programme Council. He also stressed that dialogue with Civic Platform had to be initiated. "Platform is a competitor, but it should not become an opponent. It is a competitor, but also a partner for discussion," Kwaśniewski noted.
A total of 361 delegates participated in the Alliance convention. The leaders of the other three parties forming LiD were also present: Marek Borowski (SdPl), Janusz Onyszkiewicz (PD) and Waldemar Witkowski (UP).
(information and photographs by Daniel Biernat/GA)