Exit Gilowska

Allegations of collusion with communist-era secret services were enough to seal the Minister for Finance's fate, and with her departure goes the most resilient bastion of sound fiscal policy in the government.

It is staggering that a government minister of Gilowska's caliber has been sacked over as-yet unproven allegations. In the same week, the Education Minster, Roman Giertych, made the ludicrous proposition that physical education classes in school be cut to make way for a beefed-up history curriculum. Childhood obesity is one of the largest problems facing the health of European children. That an Education Minister would suggest cutting the amount of exercise children are getting is unthinkable. But here, Giertych's proposal was met with little more than a few raised eyebrows. Meanwhile, his counterpart at the Finance Ministry is out on her ear on the basis of innuendo.

Gilowska's departure had an air of inevitability about it, but the consequences could be much worse than a few weeks of political turmoil. The Prime Minister was at pains to point out that the government's current projections on fiscal spending and the budget gap will be maintained, but this will be much more difficult for Paweł Wojciechowski, Gilowska's successor, to achieve. When Gilowska joined Law and Justice, she brought a much-needed dose of fiscal rectitude to the party. The political leverage she commanded, which allowed her to push for fiscal reforms in the face of spending demands from the coalition partners, will not be at Wojciechowski's disposal. He may have a financial background, but a lack of political pull will prove telling when it comes to facing down the likes of Andrzej Lepper and Giertych.

Gilowska's departure will also weaken the position of her natural ally, the Prime Minister. Hers was a voice of authority, and without it Marcinkiewicz will have a tough time keeping the populist leanings of the coalition in check.