German FM dismisses Kaczynski-Merkel jibe?

Opposition Law and Justice leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski on the campaign trial in Siedlce, 05.10.2011. Photo: PAP/Przemysław Piątkowski

A new book by Kaczynski entitled Poland of Our Dreams contains fragments which allude to the rebuilding of “German imperial power”, a “strategic axis with Moscow,” as well as a possible hint that Merkel did not come to power by purely democratic means.

The passages have caused a media storm in Germany, with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung headlining an article “The Bad Chancellor,” in which the daily comments that Jaroslaw Kaczynski often brings Germany into his politics ahead of an election, and that Merkel’s implied ‘Stasi connection’ is no different in this respect.

While Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski has said that Kaczynski “should apologise” for the contents of his book, Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has since appealed to members of the national conservative Law and Justice “not to ruin Polish-German relations.”

However, the German Foreign Minister has been more toned in his statements, calling for calm by saying that “I have no doubt that the Polish nation for the most part appreciates friendship with Germany.”

Meanwhile, Law and Justice politician Witold Waszczykowski has said that Kaczynski’s remarks merely fit in the canon of “juicy” language in the election campaign.

“During election campaigns politicians, especially from the opposition, often use strong and juicy language,” Waszczykowski told journalists on Wednesday, adding that “when the dust settles after the campaign, the case will stop being current.” (jb)

Source: IAR/PAP/AFP