Abolition of the Senate on the SLD's administrative cost-cutting agenda

The Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) announced on Friday that it would seek deep spending cuts in public administration to help close the gaping hole in public finances if, as widely expected, it wins the September 23 parliamentary elections. Among its plans, the SLD has promised to abolish the upper house of parliament, the Senate, and to reduce the number of cabinet ministers to 16 from the current 18. In other reforms, the party would slash a total of 2,500 administrative posts and freeze the salaries of members of parliament and top government officials. However, analysts say that such cuts would save only a few hundred million zlotys, a mere drop in the ocean compared to the estimated zl.40 billion to zl.50 billion the government needs to find for 2002. SLD leader Leszek Miller has also said he would attempt to reduce the number of Monetary Policy Council (RPP) members from the present 10. He declined to offer details, but analysts say this may be another ploy to pressure the central bank into cooperating with a future SLD cabinet and acting quickly to cut high interest rates. (Gazeta Wyborcza, Sept. 1-2, p.1; Reuters) T.J.