PO's rejection of pension reform put down to pre-election politics

The stand of the Civic Platform (PO) came as a surprise, as the party decided not to support the bill, although its deputies declared they were in favor of it less than a month ago. Donald Tusk explained the change, arguing that, "This law will result in no savings for the budget and it humiliates helpless people." Prime Minister Leszek Miller criticized the PO very strongly, "For some time I have suspected the PO of being dishonest and now everybody can see that my fears were justified". Meanwhile, Marek Belka believes that the PO's actions can be explained as part of wider political games related to possible early elections. (Gazeta Wyborcza, April 17-18, p. 3) A.F.