WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s main opposition leader called on Wednesday for a no-confidence vote in the liberal government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk following leaks of secretly taped conversations of some ministers and officials.
Jaroslaw Kaczynski asked the Parliament to oust Tusk’s team and proposed his own candidate, Piotr Glinski, to lead a new government. Glinski was also proposed last year to become prime minister but was defeated.
Kaczynski’s Law and Justice party, which mixes national Catholic values with socialist views, has a secure lead over Tusk’s ruling Civic Platform party in opinion polls, more than a year ahead of parliamentary elections.
Speaking in very general terms, Kaczynski accused the Cabinet of plunging Poland into crisis and named a long list of political and social issues, including poverty, which have “not been taken care of.” Kaczynski, a former prime minister, did not suggest any solutions.
Speaking before Tusk and his ministers, Kaczynski said the team was “not fit for governing a large European country” and called for a no-confidence vote.
Tusk, who is serving his second term, called the vote “pointless” and pointed to Poland’s good economic shape and growth.
The vote was expected on Friday. The ruling coalition, which includes a peasant party, has a narrow majority in parliament, but last month it easily won a vote of confidence.
Tusk requested that vote to boost his political support after his government was undermined by leaked tapes of restaurant conversations that compromised some of his ministers.
Tusk has refused to step down over the illegal tapes.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
