Finance minister sacked over budget deficit crisis as election looms

Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek yesterday sacked Finance Minister Jaroslaw Bauc only weeks before next month's general election. Buzek said he had to take the decision as the budget deficit had ballooned out of control and Bauc had not informed his cabinet colleagues in time. Deep cuts in public spending have now to be made. Bauc's replacement is Halina Wasilewska-Trenkner, a long serving member of the Treasury and a non-party technocrat. "We now have to prepare a budget which will bring back balance to public finances", said the Prime Minister. "We are fully aware of the need to increase savings and for fiscal belt-tightening". Buzek plans to try and set a budget deficit at no more than 40 billion zlotys, or five percent of GDP. If no savings are made then the deficit could reach nearer 90 billion zlotys in 2002. The new Finance Minister said yesterday,"Putting together that budget draft is a very difficult challenge. But I believe my colleagues will help me reach that goal". (Gazeta Wyborcza p. 1, Reuters).