Miller formally proposes that Huebner becomes Poland's first EU Commissioner

In a meeting with the head of the European Commission, Romano Prodi in Brussels on October 6, Prime Minister Leszek Miller officially submitted Danuta Huebner's candidacy to be the first Polish European Union Commissioner. Huebner was the only person proposed by Miller for the post, and therefore Prodi has asked Miller to present at least one more candidate, so that he has some kind of influence on the shape of the selected person. According to EU diplomats, among the 10 candidate countries to join the Union in 2004, Poland is the first one to have submitted a candidate for this position, adding that the reason for this is probably the will to gain competencies and power. "It would be a surprise if the ruling party selected somebody from outside the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD). However, the way Miller made the decision to choose Huebner for the post, only weakens her candidacy," said the Sejm Deputy Speaker Donald Tusk, referring to the lack of consultations with other politicians over the decision. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A1) A.K.