Anti-clerical party turns kingmaker in Poland

A POLISH anti-clerical party that wants to cut down the influence of the Catholic Church could hold the balance of power in the country’s general election.

The Janusz Palikot Movement wants crucifixes removed from public buildings, the Church taxed, gay rights promoted and Poland’s strict abortion law relaxed – policies that have enraged conservatives in one of Europe’s most Catholic countries.

Despite conservative opposition, the party is now Poland’s third biggest. The pollsters give it a rating of around 10 per cent, putting it level with the Democratic Left Alliance.

Its popularity could give the party’s leader, Janusz Palikot, a real say in the creation of Poland’s next government.

Polls indicate that Civic Platform, the governing party of prime minister Donald Tusk, looks set to be returned but without a majority. It may have to form a coalition, and this could give Mr Palikot an entrance to power that a few months ago appeared improbable.

A self-made millionaire, the 46-year-old politician has always revelled in controversy, once brandishing a sex aid and a toy pistol at a press conference.

“We’re not fighting the Church in the sense of the faith and the support it provides to people,” said Mr Palikot. “We’re fighting the Church as a political party: its corporate finance. The Church should not deal in politics and should not accumulate wealth.”

A party election advertisement features an urchin washing car windows on the road side when a priest in an expensive car rolls up. Leafing through a wad of notes, the priest hands the boy a picture of a saint.

The party has also ruffled feathers by campaigning to get crosses – ubiquitous in Polish public buildings – removed, arguing their presence went against provisions in the Polish constitution on religious equality and the separation of Church and state.