End of the line
Even as he announced the dissolution of the coalition government and the sacking of his agriculture and environment ministers, Prime Minister Leszek Miller expressed the hope that he could still count on the support of his former colleagues on key issues, including EU entry.
There was initial speculation that Miller might try to woo one of the Sejm's opposition parties into joining him in government, but as the week wore on it became evident that the SLD and UP would be going it alone as a minority government. Legislation could still be passed, it was reasoned, as long as support was forthcoming from individual parties on individual issues.
However, the PiS immediately appeared to rule out its support for any such plan by saying it was preparing for an early general election, which should take place this year. Party leader Jarosław Kaczyński said the party had to consider whether to undertake actions that would make life difficult for an SLD-minority government, and in effect bring about early elections. The view found support from the LPR, which also indicated it wanted to see a minority government dismissed, since it could not guarantee stable rule.
But the prime minister was sticking to his guns, brushing aside speculation that the government would be calling an early vote in the latter part of the year. The next election is due in the autumn of 2005, and Miller insisted he had no intention of holding it any earlier than the spring of that year.
Miller received some welcome reassurances from the man he had axed as agriculture minister, PSL leader Jarosław Kalinowski. While criticising Miller for breaking up the coalition, Kalinowski ruled out any chance of his party joining forces with the far right to campaign against EU entry. He further indicated that the PSL would not encourage farmers to vote against joining the EU in the upcoming referendum. Analysts had expressed concerns that recent rural unrest, coupled with possible protests in the health sector and on the state railways, could turn the referendum into a protest vote.
Kalinowski's successor as agriculture minister, Adam Tański, was immediately confronted with this rural anger, when around 5,000 farmers converged on Warsaw to protest against the government's agricultural policy. Led by Samoobrona leader Andrzej Lepper, the protestors blocked several main streets in the capital, causing long traffic jams. Speaking in a radio interview, Tański asked the farmers to remain calm and promised to meet their representatives.
Notably, the new agriculture minister stressed the importance of the biofuels bill and made a point of calling it necessary for agriculture. The early passage of a new form of the bill, the original of which was vetoed by the president, had been a key demand of the PSL and had led indirectly to the coalition's breakup. The PSL subsequently hinted that passage of the bill this year remained key to securing its support in the EU referendum.
As for the markets, initially the coalition's breakup had sent the złoty to a 39-month low against the euro because of the fears over the outcome of the EU referendum. Later in the week there was greater calm, and the currency regained some of its lost ground, as the concerns gradually diminished.
There was initial speculation that Miller might try to woo one of the Sejm's opposition parties into joining him in government, but as the week wore on it became evident that the SLD and UP would be going it alone as a minority government. Legislation could still be passed, it was reasoned, as long as support was forthcoming from individual parties on individual issues.
However, the PiS immediately appeared to rule out its support for any such plan by saying it was preparing for an early general election, which should take place this year. Party leader Jarosław Kaczyński said the party had to consider whether to undertake actions that would make life difficult for an SLD-minority government, and in effect bring about early elections. The view found support from the LPR, which also indicated it wanted to see a minority government dismissed, since it could not guarantee stable rule.
But the prime minister was sticking to his guns, brushing aside speculation that the government would be calling an early vote in the latter part of the year. The next election is due in the autumn of 2005, and Miller insisted he had no intention of holding it any earlier than the spring of that year.
Miller received some welcome reassurances from the man he had axed as agriculture minister, PSL leader Jarosław Kalinowski. While criticising Miller for breaking up the coalition, Kalinowski ruled out any chance of his party joining forces with the far right to campaign against EU entry. He further indicated that the PSL would not encourage farmers to vote against joining the EU in the upcoming referendum. Analysts had expressed concerns that recent rural unrest, coupled with possible protests in the health sector and on the state railways, could turn the referendum into a protest vote.
Kalinowski's successor as agriculture minister, Adam Tański, was immediately confronted with this rural anger, when around 5,000 farmers converged on Warsaw to protest against the government's agricultural policy. Led by Samoobrona leader Andrzej Lepper, the protestors blocked several main streets in the capital, causing long traffic jams. Speaking in a radio interview, Tański asked the farmers to remain calm and promised to meet their representatives.
Notably, the new agriculture minister stressed the importance of the biofuels bill and made a point of calling it necessary for agriculture. The early passage of a new form of the bill, the original of which was vetoed by the president, had been a key demand of the PSL and had led indirectly to the coalition's breakup. The PSL subsequently hinted that passage of the bill this year remained key to securing its support in the EU referendum.
As for the markets, initially the coalition's breakup had sent the złoty to a 39-month low against the euro because of the fears over the outcome of the EU referendum. Later in the week there was greater calm, and the currency regained some of its lost ground, as the concerns gradually diminished.
