Ministry shake up in preparation for elections in October

The Maritime Economy Ministry run by Rafał Wiechecki will be liquidated, Ryszard Legutko will become the new Education Minister in place of Roman Giertych of the League of Polish Families (LPR), while the new labor minister will be Joanna Kluzik-Rostkowska replacing Anna Kalata of Self-defence. The PM wanted to dismiss coalition ministers on Saturday, but he waited for the authorities of PiS to empower him to do so. On Saturday afternoon the PiS Political Council decided that "Due to destructive and disloyal activities of Selfdefense and LPR we authorise the chairman to take decisions enabling earlier elections". Kaczyński said "I believe it will take place on October 21, while November is the farthest date." On Monday President Lech Kaczyński will return from the seaside to hand in the dismissals and appoint new ministers. Roman Giertych was unable to personally encourage the PM to change his mind and is now joining forces with radical Catholic station Radio Maryja to prevent earlier elections. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, A2, A3, A7) M.M.