Poland Finally OKs New Cabinet
Poland’s two-month-long government crisis ended Monday when Parliament narrowly voted to accept a Cabinet that is likely to loosen up on the tough economic austerity program of President Lech Walesa.
Last week, legislators gave Prime Minister Jan Olszewski a vote of confidence by rejecting his resignation, which he filed after saying his feud with Walesa made it impossible to select a Cabinet.
The Sejm, or lower chamber of Parliament, then faced the choice of accepting Olszewski’s Cabinet or leaving the question unresolved until January. Poland has been without a Cabinet since the Oct. 27 elections.
The Sejm voted 235-60 with 139 abstentions Monday to accept the government. Olszewski needed 218 votes for approval.
With the decision, Olszewski is now free to follow through on his pledge to relax Walesa’s economic reforms, which have slowed inflation but raised prices and put many people out of work.
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