Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05WARSAW1358
2005-03-09 15:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Warsaw
Cable title:  

POLISH DEPUTY PM HAUSNER SUBMITS OFFERS TO RESIGN,

Tags:  ECON EFIN ELAB PGOV 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 001358 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2015
TAGS: ECON EFIN ELAB PGOV
SUBJECT: POLISH DEPUTY PM HAUSNER SUBMITS OFFERS TO RESIGN,
BUT SO FAR REMAINS IN OFFICE


Classified By: DCM Cameron Munter. Reasons: 1.5 (B) and (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 001358

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2015
TAGS: ECON EFIN ELAB PGOV
SUBJECT: POLISH DEPUTY PM HAUSNER SUBMITS OFFERS TO RESIGN,
BUT SO FAR REMAINS IN OFFICE


Classified By: DCM Cameron Munter. Reasons: 1.5 (B) and (D).


1. (U) Polish Deputy PM and Minister of Economy and Labor
Jerzy Hausner submitted his resignation to Polish PM Marek
Belka on March 9. It is now up to Belka to decide if he will
accept Hausner's resignation, and if so, when it will be
effective.


2. (C) Sources in the PM's Chancery were unsure of which
course Belka will take, although press reports suggested that
he will accept Hausner's resignation. Gabriel Beszlej, a
department director in the Prime Minister's office (please
protect),told us in confidence that "if the PM is a serious
person, he will not accept the resignation... One does not
change horses when the stable (i.e. parliamentary elections)
is in sight." He speculated that the resignation is likely
an attempt to clear the atmosphere around Hausner. He
pointed out that in a 2004 scandal over computer security at
the MFA a similar tactic had been used to break the press and
opposition pressure. Then FM Cimoszewicz resigned, but the
PM did not accept his resignation and this ended the scandal.
The director added that even if Belka were to accept
Hausner's resignation, he could make it effective in several
months. Other Chancery sources believed that Belka will
accept the resignation, but make it effective only once a
replacement had been found.


3. (SBU) Hausner suggested to journalists that the reason
for his resignation was the political controversy in the wake
of his announcement that he plans to join the nascent
center-left Democratic Party (PD),a move criticized by both
the governing Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) and the
opposition. On March 7, the populist Self-Defense Party (SO)
submitted a no-confidence motion against Hausner in the Sejm,
which most of the opposition appears to support.


4. (SBU) Ministry of Economy sources reported that one of the
ministry's undersecretaries had called the ministry's
employees together for a meeting and told them that both the
ministry and minister Hausner would continue to function as
planned at least through Easter. He added that travel plans
remain in place, including Hausner's visit to Washington
March 17-18.


5. (C) Hausner's offer to resign is not surprising,
considering that he has thrown his lot in with the opposition
PD. Politically, Hausner's departure from the government
could give momentum to the formation of PD and, to a lesser
degree, increase pressure for spring elections. However,
parliamentary elections will take place this year in any case
(possibly in May or June, but at the latest in September).
The markets have taken this fact into account and do not
expect any new initiatives from the Belka government, either
with or without Hausner. Instead, they are focused on
Poland's steadily improving economy. The political scene in
Poland is unsettled, but we expect few changes of course in
policy.
ASHE