THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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WARSAW, Poland - A critic of President Lech Kaczynski has bought a fountain pen that malfunctioned when the Polish leader signed the European Union reform treaty.

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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Czarek Sokolowski

In this photo dated Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, Poland's President Lech Kaczynski looks at the fountain pen which would not write, during a ceremony of Poland signing the European Union reform treaty.

Janusz Palikot paid 18,100 zlotys ($6,300) for the pen in an Internet auction Monday night. Palikot said Tuesday the faulty pen was symbolic of Kaczynski's presidency.

Palikot, a member of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Civic Platform party, has criticized the president's skepticism toward the EU. Kaczynski's brother is Poland's opposition leader.

Kaczynski delayed signing Poland's ratification of the document, known as the Lisbon Treaty, for 18 months.

When he approved it Oct. 10, his Stipula pen refused to write and an aide lent him a ball point pen to sign.

Proceeds of the auction will go to children with cerebral palsy.