The World - News from Jan. 3, 1989

One hundred professors and prominent personalities have signed a petition asking the Polish government for open elections to the Sejm (Parliament) this year, a spokesman said. The petition, presented to the government ombudsman’s office and given to Western news agencies, said any citizen should have the right to run for the Sejm after being nominated by a certain portion--possibly 1%--of eligible voters. Currently, nominations are controlled by the Communist Party, which in effect determines how many seats go to Communists, to allied political parties and to non-party members.