Coalition gets sworn in, goes straight to work

The new coalition government created by Civic Platform (PO) and the Polish Peasants Party (PSL) was sworn in by the President Lech Kaczyński on Friday. "If we help each other, we will succeed," announced Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Former PM Jarosław Kaczyński did not show up during the ceremony but sent a short letter congratulating his successor. The government began work by sending the budget bill to the Sejm for debating, while the new PM dismissed Antoni Macierewicz from the deputy Defense Minister post. The coalition also decided that the Construction, Transport and Maritime Economy Ministries will be merged into a single Ministry of Infrastructure. (Dziennik, November 17-18, p. 1; Gazeta Wyborcza, November 17-18, p. 1; Rzeczpospolita, November 17-18, p. A1) A.K