SLD leader Leszek Miller designated as Poland's next Prime Minister

President Aleksander Kwasniewski yesterday designated the leader of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) Leszek Miller as the new Prime Minister. "I have decided to make this designation today so Poland can have a strong new government as soon as possible," Kwasniewski said in a statement. Commenting on his appointment, Miller said forming a new government would be the biggest challenge of his life. According to senior SLD official Marek Borowski, the SLD-UP alliance is moving forward in its talks with the Polish Peasants Party (PSL) regarding the possibility of forming a coalition government. Today SLD-UP representatives will hold talks with the PSL on European Union (EU) integration, agriculture, and budget expenditure. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, A3; Reuters) P.J.