The World - News from July 4, 1989

The official Solidarity newspaper proposed the formation of Poland’s first non-Communist government since the 1940s. The Gazeta Wyborcza made the suggestion as behind-the-scenes efforts continued on resolving a political impasse over this week’s election to the powerful new post of president of Poland. Solidarity spokesman Janusz Onyszkiewicz declined to comment on the proposal, saying it was not official. But a senior politician in the ruling coalition said the idea had been sympathetically discussed by some coalition leaders. The ruling Communist-dominated coalition has failed to agree on a candidate who could win a majority in the 560-seat National Assembly.