End of the line for Infrastructure Minister?

Problems with the completion of the A2 motorway, as well as Poles’ sore memories with the chaotic rail timetable changeover in sub-zero temperatures at the end of 2010 have not impressed the Prime Minister, who has been holding consultations with colleagues as to which minister could be a burden for the ruling Civic Platform in the upcoming elections.

Cezary Grabarczyk (pictured above) currently has one week to resolve a conflict with Chinese contractors over the completion of a section of the A2 highway, one of Poland’s key investments ahead of Euro 2012.

Grabarczyk’s dismissal would not automatically mean a new minister will be called up. According to the centre-right Rzeczpospolita daily, Tusk would run the ministry himself.

This would not be the first time that such a solution has been employed: during the Law and Justice-led coalition government in 2006, Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz also held the position of Treasury Minister after the stepping down of Andrzej Mikosz.

According to pundits and PR experts quoted by the Rzeczpospolita daily, the dismissal of Grabarczyk would be a boon for Civic Platform before the elections, although constitutional expert Piotr Winczorek warns that PM Tusk should not take took much on board. (jb)