New Polish gov’t to be appointed on Monday afternoon: president’s spokesman

The ceremony will be held in Warsaw at 5 p.m., Krzysztof Łapiński told Polish Radio’s IAR news agency on Monday morning.

Poland’s state PAP news agency has quoted sources in Duda’s office as saying that senior presidential aide Krzysztof Szczerski has been offered the post of foreign minister in the new Morawiecki government.

Duda on Friday accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Beata Szydło and her Cabinet.

He named Finance and Development Minister Mateusz Morawiecki as prime minister-designate, tasking him with forming a new government.

Szydło offered to resign on Thursday evening, halfway through her conservative Law and Justice government’s term in office.

Law and Justice (PiS) politicians have said that the change of prime minister reflects the government’s determination to focus on the economy over the next two years.

Under the Polish constitution, the president must appoint a prime minister and a Cabinet within 14 days of accepting the resignation of the previous government. The president must swear in new ministers.

From that moment, the new prime minister has two weeks to deliver a speech outlining his government's programme and to motion for a vote of confidence by parliament in his government.

A vote of confidence is planned on Tuesday, according to PAP.

Szydło is to remain in government as a deputy PM in charge of social policy, a senior politician said on Saturday.

A potentially broader reshuffle in government ministers is expected to take place in January, PAP reported, citing “unofficial” sources.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP