Solidarity Editor Chosen as Premier : Gen. Jaruzelski Gives Mazowiecki the Nod at Meeting

President Wojciech Jaruzelski today chose Solidarity activist Tadeusz Mazowiecki to be the new prime minister and lead the East Bloc’s first non-communist government, a government source said.

“I can expect such an offer. I am ready to accept it,” Mazowiecki told reporters after meeting with Jaruzelski this morning.

A highly placed state official said that during the meeting, Jaruzelski chose Mazowiecki from three Solidarity-backed candidates and would formally offer him the prime minister’s post. The Sejm, or Parliament, where a Solidarity-backed alliance has a firm majority, must approve Jaruzelski’s choice.

Spent Time in Jail

Mazowiecki, 62, is a journalist who spent time in jail for his anti-government activities. He refused to give details of his meeting with the president, saying only that it concerned “all important topics.”

“There are huge troubles, huge problems. It won’t be easy,” Mazowiecki said of the prime minister’s post. “I am afraid of many things, but if I were only afraid, I would be a total pessimist. Somebody has to try it.”

The new government will inherit an economy wracked by inflation, shortages and a $39-billion foreign debt.

White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said today that President Bush is not considering increasing the $119-million economic aid package proposed for Poland, despite the non-communist government taking shape. Fitzwater said the Bush Administration will not comment on the new prime minister until the nomination was ratified.

No Comment From Soviets

There was no immediate comment from the Soviet Union, which has expressed concern about the changes in Poland but promised not to interfere.

The Polish government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said a formal announcement on Jaruzelski’s choice will be made Saturday. The Communist Party Central Committee is also scheduled to meet Saturday.

Mazowiecki is editor of the Solidarity weekly newspaper Tygodnik Solidarnosc. The other candidates recommended by Solidarity were Jacek Kuron, a Solidarity lawmaker, and Bronislaw Geremek, Solidarity’s parliamentary leader.

The once-inconceivable idea of a government without a Communist Party member at the helm became possible after Solidarity leader Lech Walesa persuaded two small parties that hold the balance of power in the Sejm to join Solidarity in a coalition.

Lost Majority

That resulted in the Communist alliance losing its majority in the Sejm.

On Thursday, the Communist prime minister, Gen. Czeslaw Kiszczak, resigned after trying two weeks to form a government.

The same day, Jaruzelski met with Walesa, reportedly agreed to the coalition idea and agreed to pick a member of the trade union he once outlawed to lead it.

Walesa, who in April realized his goal of reviving Solidarity after a seven-year ban, had said he did not want the job.