TURMOIL IN THE EAST BLOC : Speed Economic Reform, Walesa Asks Deputies

Solidarity leader Lech Walesa proposed Tuesday that Parliament grant special powers to Poland’s non-Communist government to allow it to restructure the economy quickly and move it in a more market-oriented direction.

Walesa’s apparently unsolicited proposal came as Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki’s Solidarity-dominated Cabinet was completing a package of economic reform legislation for presentation to Parliament on Sunday.

Instead of Parliament debating each new law, Walesa proposed in effect that it give the government broad powers to implement whatever kind of reform rules it deems necessary.

“The government has not had a chance yet to think about the (Walesa) statement,” said deputy government spokesman Henryk Wozniakowski. “We are glad for the support which Lech Walesa extends. . . . However, it is hard to say how useful this proposal is.”

Communist Party spokesman Jan Bisztyga, while not specifically ruling out Walesa’s proposal, said Parliament would be the “appropriate forum” for considering economic changes.

Poland’s proposed economic reforms are expected to be answered with billions of dollars in Western aid.

Michel Camdessus, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, enthusiastically endorsed the “courageous” program proposed by the Solidarity-led government after concluding four days of talks with Polish officials Tuesday.

Camdessus met with Finance Minister Leszek Balcerowicz on the final day of intensive talks to clinch negotiations that began in September.