POLAND:Polish interior minister Ludwik Dorn resigned yesterday, the second senior cabinet member to quit this week over differences with conservative prime minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski.
The resignation, just two days after the departure of defence minister Radek Sikorski, sparked rumours of a realignment of Polish politics and the inclusion of a new party in the governing three-way coalition.
But Mr Kaczynski suggested at a news conference that the change would make little difference to his conservative government and said he would quickly name a new interior minister.
"One change in the government is not a big deal," he said. "Eight ministers would have been a big deal . . . but further changes are not ruled out."
Political analysts said the two departures probably reflected personal disagreements and specific issues within their ministries rather than any change in policy.
Poland, which joined the European Union in 2004, is the largest economy in central Europe and has enjoyed a period of rapid growth since Mr Kaczynski and his twin brother, president Lech Kaczynski, took power more than a year ago.
However, the three-party ruling coalition has been rocked by disagreements and analysts had suggested that Mr Kaczynski might be about to revamp the cabinet to try to build a broader base of support.
Polish daily Dziennik said yesterday that Jan Rokita, a prominent member of the opposition Civic Platform party at odds with its leadership, was a possible candidate for the interior ministry portfolio.
Mr Dorn, a long-time ally of the Kaczynskis, was a founding member of their Law and Justice party and the only one of four deputy prime ministers who is a member of the conservative grouping. He said he had agreed to stay on at the prime minister's request as deputy prime minister.
"When a minister disagrees with the prime minister he should lodge his resignation," Mr Dorn told a news conference. - ( Reuters)