New York, NY, May 1, 2006 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed "grave concern" to Polish Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz about the prospect of his forming a coalition government with the extremist political parties Self-Defence and the League of Polish Families.  Leaders of both parties have made statements suggesting sympathy for racist and anti-Semitic views.

"We recognize that Poland requires a stable majority government," Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director said in a letter to Prime Minister Marcinkiewicz.  "At the same time, a government which rests on bigots and extremists for its support can offer only instability to the great nation of Poland and to Europe itself."

The leader of the Self-Defence party, Andrzej Lepper, has made statements supportive of the French neo-fascist leader Jean-Marie Le Pen and has spoken approvingly of the economic policies of the Nazis.  Mr. Lepper received an honorary doctorate from MAUP, a private Ukrainian university that is the main source of anti-Semitic propaganda and agitation in Ukraine, according to ADL.

In the recent past, leaders of the League of Polish Families have spoken of "Judeo-communist" plots and made other anti-Semitic statements.  The party maintains close links with Radio Maryja, a conservative Polish Catholic radio station notorious for its anti-Semitic broadcasts.

"We are fearful that the involvement of these parties in the government will make Poland vulnerable to intolerance and bigotry, with a consequent negative impact on the country's international reputation," Mr. Foxman said.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.