Hausner continues tirade against Kołodko's reforms

Economy and Labor Minister Jerzy Hausner yesterday stressed that boosting growth was more important than early adoption of the Euro, highlighting cabinet splits over the best fiscal course to take. Underscoring cabinet policy differences, Hausner questioned Finance Minister Grzegorz Kołodko's drive to adopt the euro as early as 2007 and criticized his reform plans as lacking growth-boosting measures. "Joining the euro zone should not be a fetish," he told a meeting of economists. Hausner said there was room for more fiscal loosening and demand-side stimulus to boost growth next year to five percent, enough to cut into the record 19% jobless rate. He said his initiatives, including lowering corporate tax to 19% and raising personal tax-free allowances to zł. 4,000, would add an extra percentage point to GDP growth, possibly next year. (Puls Biznesu, p. 11; Reuters) J.K.