Putting the brakes on the euro

Law and Justice's Kaczyński said that Poland would "definitely" hold a referendum as to whether it should join the European Union's single-currency zone.

"There definitely will be a referendum; getting rid of one's own currency is a very serious limitation of one's own sovereignty," Kaczyński said.

The announcement confirms the policy of Law and Justice, which campaigned on a platform of a gradual, rather than speedy, adoption of the euro. According to Kaczyński, the vote would probably take place during "the second half of [his] term, or even towards the end of it," making it increasingly unlikely that Poland will join the eurozone at the same time as other new EU members in 2009, as some had hoped.

"Our friends in Europe are not encouraging us to act hastily," Kaczyński added.

The process could be further drawn out due to the fact that PiS, which won September's parliamentary elections, has called for more spending on social-welfare programs, which could hinder Poland's ability to meet the strict budget-deficit limit of three percent of GDP required to enter the eurozone.

Many free-marketeers have encouraged Poland to join the single-currency bloc as quickly as possible, in order to attract more foreign investment and tourism. (Reuters)