PM Tusk's opening speech big on promises

It was a record 185 minutes long and based on keywords of trust and common sense. He promised pay rises in the public sector, lowering tax rates and keeping the budget deficit in check. The new government wants to withdraw troops from Iraq in 2008 and will sign the European Treaty as negotiated by the previous government, i.e without the Charter of Fundamental Rights. "We don't share the previous government's fears of the Charter, but respect their opinion," said Tusk. Cooperation with France and Germany will have a high priority. Law and Justice (PiS) deputies commented on the speech as boring and shallow, while PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński spoke of his fears that his party will be persecuted by the new government. President Lech Kaczyński was in Georgia and did not attend the expose. (Gazeta Wyborcza, November 24-25, p. 1,-2, 33; Rzeczpospolita, November 24-25,  p. A1-A8, Dziennik November 24-25, p. 1-2, 10-13) K.K.