Miller and Kwiatkowski are the most probable candidates to replace the dismissed ministers, media and politicians speculate.
As a result of the recent government reshuffle due to the so-called ‘Blackjack scandal’, several ministers have had to leave office. The posts that need to be filled include: the Interior Minister, previously held by Grzegorz Schetyna; Justice Minister, held by Andrzej Czuma; Sports Minister, held by Miroslaw Drzewiecki, and deputy Economy Minister, held by Adam Szejnfeld.
There will also be three vacant posts of secretaries of state at the Chancellery of Prime Minister, previously held by Slawomir Nowak, Rafal Grupinski and Pawel Gras, a post of the head of Civic Platform parliamentary club, held by Zbigniew Chlebowski and head of the Central Anticorruption Bureau (CBA) held by Mariusz Kaminski.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk is expected to announce who will replace the dismissed ministers on Monday, but politicians and media have already made their bets.
It is most likely that Grzegorz Schetyna will be replaced by Jerzy Miller, former Krakow provincial governor and head of the National Health Fund. However, according to Rzeczpospolita daily, the post of Interior Minister could also be taken up by Marek Biernacki, former Interior Minister.
On Wednesday, media bet on Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, to become the new Justice Minister. However, both Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Cimoszewicz denied the speculations. Thus, Krzysztof Kwiatkowski, deputy Justice Minister, is likely to fill the vacancy.
Deputy Economy Minister Adam Szejnfeld will probably be replaced by Miroslaw Sekula, former president of the Supreme Chamber of Control (NIK) and Pawel Wojtunik, head of the Central Investigation Bureau (CBS), is the most probable candidate for the head of the Central Anticorruption Bureau (CBA).
Krzysztof Kilian, former Infrastructure Minister, and Jaroslaw Gowin, Civic Platform deputy from Krakow, have a chance to fill the vacancies in the Chancellery of Prime Minister. (mg/mmj)
Related Stories: More ministers resign over Blackjack affair. thenews.pl. 7 October 2009.