Miller calls for a vote of confidence

Premier Leszek Miller is expected to win a vote of confidence in Parliament for his minority government this week, politicians said yesterday. The victory, however, is likely to be too narrow to give his embattled left-wing administration the lift it needs to pass tough economic reforms needed to prepare Poland for EU entry in May 2004. Miller called the vote, after Poles strongly backed EU accession in a referendum last weekend, in order to break free of the policy drift and sleaze scandals that have beset his government. "The premier is an old fox. He wouldn't have asked for the vote if he had not been sure of sufficient support. Still, it is a gamble," said a politician from Miller's ruling party, the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), which along with its smaller ally, the Labor Union (UP), control 209 votes in the 460-seat lower house of Parliament, 22 votes short of an absolute majority. (Reuters) J.K.