Prime Minister dismisses Finance Minister

Prime Minister Beata Szydło announced on Wednesday afternoon that she had dismissed Finance Minister Paweł Szałamacha. He will be replaced by Development Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who will combine the roles. The change is a move to give Morawiecki oversight of all economic issues. Szydło said it was needed to make the government's economic stimulus plan more effective. Commentators also stressed that the reshuffle strengthens his position within the ranks of the ruling party and the government. The cabinet approved Szałamacha's 2017 draft budget and the prime minister promised that the government will stick to it.