Former finance minister Zyta Gilowska says she will support the presidential candidacy of Lech Kaczyński in any way she can.

“President Kaczyński is an experienced, reliable and honest man,” she told the Dziennik newspaper.

Gilowska, who will lead President Kaczynski’s re-election bid in September, stressed she was not planning to return to Parliament.

Mrs. Gilowska also offered a critical view of the Donald Tusk Civic Platform-led government, claiming the cabinet is not able to deal with any issue which requires a long-term perspective. She predicted that 2010 will be difficult for Poland’s economy with a budget deficit expected to reach seven percent of GDP.

Gilowska is a former member of the Civic Platform party but left amid accusations she was using her own position to try an influence the selection of her son as an MP. She later joined the Law and Justice government as finance minister and deputy prime minister. (di/pg)