Prime Minister makes sure Hausner does not lose his influence

The new Economy Minister is Jacek Piechota, who until now was Secretary of State in the same Ministry and Hausner's chief deputy. Hausner is not leaving the government for long, as he was appointed by Prime Minister Marek Belka as the social adviser to the National Development Plan. However, Hausner will be focusing his energies on building the Democratic Party (PD) which he is forming together with the leaders of the Freedom Union (UW). Following Hausner's departure, only one deputy prime minister will remain in the government, Izabela-Jaruga Nowacka. The Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) wanted Defense Ministry Jerzy Szmajdziński to also become a deputy prime minister. However, Belka decided that as the government will only rule until May 5, there is no reason to appoint a new deputy PM. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 4) A.K.