Polish PM Tusk to Reshuffle Unpopular Government
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will push ahead with a cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday, possibly replacing key ministers in his unpopular center-right government, amid a sluggish economy and corruption allegations.
"Tomorrow around 11:00 am (1000 GMT) I will make a statement on a cabinet reshuffle," Tusk told reporters in Warsaw on Tuesday without elaborating.
Now serving its second consecutive term in office, Tusk's Civic Platform (PO) party has seen its approval ratings plunge to record lows ahead of regional elections next year and a general vote in 2015.
The main culprit has been slow economic growth in the country of 38 million people, which was however the only EU member to avoid recession during both the global economic crisis and the eurozone debt debacle.
Local media report that five ministers could go, including Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski, who authored controversial pension reform plans and austerity measures.
Others include the ministers for health, education, sports, science and public administration.
Speculation has also swirled around Environment Minister Marcin Korolec, but his departure Wednesday would be unlikely as he is the president of the ongoing U.N. climate talks in Warsaw.
Corruption allegations have also dogged Tusk's party.
Last week he accepted the resignation of Transport Minister Slawomir Nowak, suspected of having accepted an expensive watch as a bribe.
Tusk's two-party coalition government has seen its once stable majority dwindle to just one seat in the 460 lower house of parliament. PO deputies have deserted both the party and government amid infighting.
Source: Agence France Presse
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