Lack of political will to carry out painful, but necessary reform of expenditures

Rumors are circulating that the government has to find zł. 8-10 billion to cap the 2004 budget with a deficit of zł. 45.5 billion. Analysts claim that next year's expenditures should be slashed by some zł. 12-15 billion and in order to do so the government would have to make radical decisions on cutting expenditure which would involve very unpopular steps. Several ministers reported that cuts and restriction would mostly hit farmers' insurance and early retirement benefits. Analysts claim that the government should curb the number of funds and government agencies and increase the retirement age. Subsidies for waning sectors such as mining and steel would have to be dramatically slashed. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A1) A.Z.