Justice and Culture Ministers replaced as new Finance Minister is appointed

Following the resignation of Marek Belka as Finance Minister, Prime Minister Leszek Miller nominated Grzegorz Kolodko to replace him. Miller took e veryone by surprise, announcing two more changes in the Cabinet by dis missing the Justice Minister Barbara Piwnik and declaring the resignation of the Culture Minister Andrzej Celinski. On Saturday, President Aleksander Kwasniewski accepted Grzegorz Kolodko as Finance Minister, Waldemar Da browski as the new Culture Minister and Grzegorz Kurczuk as the Justice Minister. Miller refused to comment on the reasons for dismissing Piwnik, only saying that it was necessary. Private radio station, Radio Zet, quoting an anonymous informer from the Presidential Office said that at first Kwasniewski refused to accept the candidacy of Kolodko, but eventually agreed provided that Piwnik and Celinski were dismissed. Miller told j ournalists that when two ministers step down it is a good moment for "a government reshuffle". (Gazeta Wyborcza, July 6-7, p. 1) A.Z.