Ex-Communist May Be Next Polish Premier

Jozef Oleksy, a top official in Poland’s last Communist government, moved a step closer Wednesday to becoming the country’s next prime minister. But President Lech Walesa continued to make life difficult for the former Communist Party boss and his left-wing coalition.

The Sejm, the lower house of Parliament, voted to oust the 16-month-old government of Prime Minister Waldemar Pawlak and turned to Oleksy to form a new one.

The vote had been expected after Pawlak agreed on Feb. 7 to step down in the hope of defusing a months-long feud between the ruling coalition and Walesa.

But Walesa has spent much of the last three weeks dropping hints that a government headed by Oleksy would be equally unacceptable.

He talked with Oleksy on the telephone Wednesday but did not officially appoint him to the new post, as required by Poland’s constitution after such a parliamentary vote.

A presidential spokesman said Walesa wanted assurances that Oleksy recognizes Walesa’s constitutional right to name the defense, Interior and foreign ministers to the new Cabinet.

It is an issue that has been at the core of the dispute between Walesa and the ruling coalition, a pairing of former Communists and their Communist-era allies from the rural Peasants’ Party.

As the only Solidarity-era figure still holding high office in Poland, Walesa views himself as an important counterbalance to a Parliament dominated by onetime Communists and their allies.

He believes that presidential control of the three ministries is crucial to maintaining that balance in a democratic Poland.

But Oleksy maintains that Walesa only has the right to make recommendations for the posts, and he has indicated that he wants to fill two of the three jobs with candidates opposed by Walesa.

The constitution, a hastily drafted document that is supposed to be rewritten this year, is vague on the degree of presidential influence over the three ministries.

Walesa is also insisting that Oleksy give up his job as Speaker of the Parliament before he can be named prime minister.

Oleksy is reluctant to relinquish the powerful post without assurances that Walesa will indeed sign off on a new government.