Polish parliament rejects resignation motion

The Polish parliament today rejected a motion calling for the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Marek Belka, who said this week that he would leave office in early May.

The lower house voted 215-213, with seven abstentions, against the non-binding resolution. The small opposition League of Polish Families had hoped to increase pressure on the government with its motion.

Yesterday, Belka, whose governing Democratic Left Alliance is deeply unpopular, said he would not stay in office past a May 5 vote on dissolving the Sejm, or lower house.

That vote would clear the way for June elections, which polls suggest will bring the centre-right opposition to power.

If parliament is dissolved, Belka leaves office automatically. If it isn’t dissolved, he indicated he would resign.