Poland was accused of conducting a "witch hunt" yesterday after a renowned former dissident faced the prospect of losing his seat as an MEP for failing to submit to a vetting law aimed at exposing Communist-era informants.Bronislaw Geremek, a former foreign minister and an activist with the Solidarity trade union that helped end Communist rule, refused to sign a declaration that he was not a collaborator.ADVERTISEMENTThe new law mandates that all elected officials, as well as professors, journalists, lawyers, judges and other people holding jobs of public trust have to sign similar pledges or else risk losing their jobs. Politicians had until April 19 to file their statements, and Mr Geremek was the only one of Poland's 54 MEPs not to conform.Poland's electoral authority said he would lose his mandate. The final decision rests with Poland's parliamentary speaker, who is to rule after May 7.Mr Geremek has completed vetting forms in the past but yesterday said that to be told to sign another was "contradictory to the rule of law and disregards the will of 121,805 voters".
Poland was accused of conducting a "witch hunt" yesterday after a renowned former dissident faced the prospect of losing his seat as an MEP for failing to submit to a vetting law aimed at exposing Communist-era informants.
Bronislaw Geremek, a former foreign minister and an activist with the Solidarity trade union that helped end Communist rule, refused to sign a declaration that he was not a collaborator.
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The new law mandates that all elected officials, as well as professors, journalists, lawyers, judges and other people holding jobs of public trust have to sign similar pledges or else risk losing their jobs. Politicians had until April 19 to file their statements, and Mr Geremek was the only one of Poland's 54 MEPs not to conform.
Poland's electoral authority said he would lose his mandate. The final decision rests with Poland's parliamentary speaker, who is to rule after May 7.
Mr Geremek has completed vetting forms in the past but yesterday said that to be told to sign another was "contradictory to the rule of law and disregards the will of 121,805 voters".
