Protests against government's new position on farm land sales

The rightist League of Polish Families (LPR) is going to protest against the government's decisions regarding sales of Polish farmland to foreigners. Last Friday, the government decided on its position concerning the pre-purchase leases of Polish farmland (to last three or seven years), which will be counted from the beginning of the lease and Poland's EU entry date, and there have been signals that such a compromise solution would be accepted by EU. LPR believes, however, that the government's new position on purchases of Polish land by EU farmers ran against Poland's vital interests, as leading to the country's ultimate disintegration and loss of independence. Also the Farmer Circles organisation protested against the government's decisions. Farmer Circles' head Wladyslaw Serafin accused the government of unconstitutionality in deciding the fate of national property without consulting the Sejm or public opinion. According to Serafin, Poland needed laws that would guarantee that Polish land stayed in Polish hands. Prime Minister Leszek Miller said, however, that in his opinion, of all the countries that aspire to EU membership, Poland had negotiated the best conditions with regard to the sale and purchase of land. Poland will have a 12-year transition period for the purchase of farmland and forests, while in the Czech Republic and Hungary's case that period will last only seven years. Poland has also negotiated a five-year transition period for the purchase of second homes, the so-called summerhouses, while there will be no transition periods in other countries. kp,bb