Miller proposes flat rate tax debate and says his gov't will stay to 2005

Prime Minister Leszek Miller in obvious good spirits after the success of the EU referendum said during a TV interview that he was expecting the support of the Monetary Policy Council (RPP) for his fiscal reforms, and spoke out strongly in favor of introducing a flat rate tax. "I know that it is a controversial issue, so for now I propose we start discussions on the matter. Next year would be a good time to introduce this tax, but only if there were agreement and consensus," said Miller. During the meeting of the Democratic Left Alliance National Council he proposed to make the Economy Ministry responsible for coordinating the entire economic policy of the government. "I wonder whether the RPP will react to our proposals. If not, then next year the new members of the Council will be chosen and maybe then it will be easier to reach agreement," said the PM. Miller was also upbeat about his future and told journalists that his government should stay to the end of its term [2005], thus ruling out ideas of early elections. To this end, he said he would call for a vote of confidence in the government to show it had support and could continue to rule. Gazeta Wyborcza also runs a front page story that Finance Minster Grzegorz Kołodko may soon be dismissed. (Gazeta Wyborcza, pp. 1,9) M.M.