Same ole goodbye
Just three months ago Prime Minister Leszek Miller dismissed treasury minister Wiesław Kaczmarek, arguing that a new leader was needed to boost privatization revenue since Kaczmarek failed to make any real headway.
Next Sławomir Cytrycki, who is not a professional politician, was appointed treasury minister, only to lose his job as well last week, following reports that he had submitted his resignation over a clash with Miller about the ongoing problems in privatizing PZU. The media hardly had time to report Cytrycki's dismissal before his deputy successor, Piotr Czyżewski, received his appointment in the presidential palace.
At the same time health minister Marek Balicki also had to pack his bags after he resigned from his post. He disagreed with Miller's decision to appoint Aleksander Nauman, a former vice-minister at the health ministry, as the new boss of the influential National Health Fund (NFZ). Balicki's resignation came as a kind of indirect appeal from Miller since Balicki had sacked Nauman when he took office eight weeks ago. This was by no means a coincidence, as Balicki said he had previously informed the prime minister that it would be either him or Nauman since the two had completely different approaches as to what must be done to heal the ailing health sector. Miller's motive, however, remained undisclosed. "I don't understand him," Balicki said.
The next departure marked the shortest duration that any minister has ever served - zero days - which didn't quite underline Miller's skill in choosing the right ministers. Ewa Kralkowska, Balicki's chosen successor, resigned before she was even appointed to office. Her reasons were quite similar to Balicki's: there should be no quarrels between those responsible for setting national health policy. The new health minister is Leszek Sikorski.
President Aleksander Kwaniewski avoided making the situation even worse by continuing his personal war with the prime minister. He was glad to hear that Miller called for early general elections to be held in June 2004, instead of 2005, together with the European Parliament elections.
Miller, however, assured the public that there would be no further ministerial dismissals. At least not of his own choosing.
