Snap elections were looming in Poland today after a smaller party broke off coalition talks amid claims of a dirty tricks campaign by the ruling conservatives.

Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the Prime Minister, who swept to power promising to rid his country of sleaze, faced calls for his resignation after one his aides was caught on television apparently offering a government job to an opposition politician to try to persuade her to defect.

The allegations have scuppered attempts by Mr Kaczynski's Law and Justice Party to build a new majority coalition, after ditching their leftist partners, Self-Defence, last week in a row over the budget and a decision to send troops to Afghanistan.

Law and Justice officials today dismissed accusations of any wrongdoing, and said that Mr Kaczynski would not resign.

The turmoil began when the TVN television channel showed what it said were two meetings between Adam Lipinski, the Law and Justice deputy leader, and Renata Beger, a Self-Defence MP who has said she was considering backing the government.

He appeared to hold out the prospect of a government post for Ms Beger, and also suggested possible financial help for internal party fines Self-Defence defectors may have to pay.

In one part, Mr Lipinski asked her what she and other Self-Defence deputies expected for backing the government. "Secretary of state in the agriculture ministry, yes?" he asked."You know, this is not a problem at all ..."

In the second meeting, they discussed the penalty which Self-Defence says its deputies must pay if they quit the party.

Ms Beger asked about the possibility of help in such a case. "Yes, we were thinking of creating some fund," Mr Lipinski said.

Ms Beger later revealed she had agreed with TVN to film the meetings with Mr Lipinski secretly.

Asked to explain his comments, Mr Lipinski told TVN: "All I wanted is to prevent these deputies being threatened".

Poland’s main opposition party, the pro-business Civic Platform, called for an immediate special parliamentary session to vote on whether to dissolve parliament and hold early elections. Parliament’s next session is scheduled for October 10.

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