Opposition criticizes lack of detail in Buzek's spending plans for 2002

Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek in a speech to parliament yesterday placed the blame for the poor budget situation on an increase in fixed costs, a slower rate of economic growth, and the implementation of laws and regulations that increased government spending. Buzek also cited as another important reason for the huge deficit the restructuring of fiscal policy. In his speech, the prime minister appealed to the leftist opposition, which is widely expected to win September 23 parliamentary elections, to cooperate with his right-wing administration in mapping out tough spending cuts for 2002. However the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) criticized Buzek's plan and demanded more details concerning future cuts. "It takes two to tango. And there has to be music. We are still waiting for this music," Marek Wagner, an SLD official, said in response to Buzek's appeal. Economists say Poland needs painful spending cuts next year to avert a financial crisis that could harm its efforts to join the European Union (EU) within the next few years. But Buzek's government has been reluctant to agree on a package of cutbacks, apparently fearing this could weaken its dwindling support ahead of this month's vote. (Prawo i Gospodarka, p. 1; Reuters) A.K.