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GV EXTERIOR People queuing for newspapers in Poland (3 shots)
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CU Newspaper ZOOM IN TO Picture of new Polish leader Stanislaw Kania
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GV INTERIOR Kania talking (3 shots)
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GV INTERIOR meeting (5 shots)
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GV & SVs meeting with Gierek speaking (4 shots)
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SV Kania meeting officials (2 shots)
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Initials AM





Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Poland's new communist leader, Stanislaw Kania, on Saturday (6 September 1980) promised more democracy in his country and pledged that the Polish Communist Party would work to regain the confidence of disgruntled Poles. Mr Kania took over from Edward Gierek who had been taken to hospital suffering from a serious heart disorder.

SYNOPSIS: Poland's most dramatic leadership change in a decade sent thousands of people queuing for newspapers with reports of the party central committee meeting which resulted in Mr Gierek's departure. There was none of the optimism that greeted Mr Gierek's rise to power.

Stanislaw Kania is a tough bureaucrat little known even in his own country. He is 53 years old and has been in charge of Poland's internal security and church affairs for nearly a decade. In his first speech as national leader, Mr Kania promised less ceremony and more substance and called on Poles to rally behind the party after a summer of labour and political turmoil.

Much of his speech appeared to echo the promises made by Mr Gierek when he took power in December, 1970, and emphasised the official line that Poland's present troubles were in part because Mr Gierek had deviated from his promises. Mr. Kania's election was warmly greeted by Moscow.