Kaczyński names Marcinkiewicz as candidate for Prime Minister

WBJ:


Prime Minister Marcinkiewicz could soon be the name on everyone's lips

During a press conference yesterday, the leader of Law and Justice (PiS), Jarosław Kaczyński, named Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz as the party's most likely candidate for Prime Minister. Marcinkiewicz is a trusted politician and one of the party's founders and leaders. PiS' leader emphasized that: "Marcinkiewicz is well prepared to solve economic problems, he has a good reputation in the business area, and was the coordinator of the process of preparing PiS' election program." In order to choose the best candidate for the post of PM, the party consulted with Civic Platform (PO). PiS is on the verge of forming a coalition with PO in the new government. "After these talks I decided that Marcinkiewicz is the man who guarantees the fastest and most effective appointment of the government," said Kaczyński. Marcinkiewicz said that Jan Rokita should participate in the formation of the new government. He also added that the most urgent task is to create the new government's program, while appointing new Ministers is a secondary matter.

An excellent move. Marcinkiewicz is relatively unknown, and was set to be Economic or Finance Minister under a PiS government. I've heard him speak on economic matters, and was encouraged with what I heard - lower taxes, fewer ministries and government bureaucracy. Is that the kind of policy they'll stick with? It's too early to tell, but that PO had imput into the decision is a hopeful sign. Could this conservative coalition bring their fiscally responsible economic policies (rather than their disastrous social policies) to the fore? Here's a good signal that it will:


Draft budget adopted but PiS already has its fiscal planning knives out

Yesterday the [SLD] government adopted a draft budget for 2006. According to the project the budget deficit is to amount to zł.32.5 billion i.e. 3.3% of GDP. "I can see no crisis in public finances," said Prime Minister Marek Belka. "In 2008 we will easily fulfill the criterion of a 3% public finance sector deficit as compared to GDP." However, the leaders of the parties that won the election have already announced that the budget will be changed. "We are already preparing amendments for the budget for 2006," revealed Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz from Law and Justice (PiS). "We assume far-reaching changes such as the liquidation of certain agencies and funds and shifts within the budget." PiS would also like to lower the deficit to zł.30 billion .

[That would bring it to about 3% of GDP already - an important step if Poland wants to join the eurozone sooner rather than later].

[But then, PiS' socialist side rears its ugly head:]

Artur Zawisza from PiS did not exclude an increase of revenues as compared to those planned by the present government by introducing tax changes.

However, the politicians of the Civic Platform (PO), the PiS' potential coalition partner, ruled this out. "It is out of the question. Minister Gronicki planned too optimistic tax revenues for next year anyway," said Zbigniew Chlebowski from PO.

Let's hope PO stick to their guns.