Govt spokesperson Kidawa-Błońska set to replace Sikorski as Sejm speaker

PM Ewa Kopacz’s Civic Platform (PO)-led government lost several ministers last week as the aftermath of last year’s finance-tape affair started to reap its first high-profile victims.

Kopacz sacked several ministers, while Sikorski resigned citing the need to maintain party (PO) unity only four months before parliamentary elections that PO looks far less likely to win than it did a few months ago.

The scandal involved public revelations of several ministers' and high-profile central bank figures' secretly recorded tape discussions, in often colourful language. It seems to expose the sometimes rather murky political machinations driving policy and policy-making within the ruling party. PO's poll ratings have dropped from the mid-30 percents a couple of months ago to around 20 percent.

Kidawa-Błońska told TVN 24 that the nomination was “a great shock and honour”.

The new speaker will be appointed next week.

Kidawa-Błońska said she would meet with all parliamentary clubs before the appointment if necessary. To be elected a minimum of 50 percent of MPs in the Sejm will need to vote in favour of appointing Kidawa-Błońska.

“I hope that in the talks I will convince MPs that it’s worth trusting me for a few months”, she said.

The outgoing spokesperson said a replacement for her post had already also been found, declining to say who, other that it would a PO MP.

Kidawa-Błońska was elected to the Sejm in the 2005 election. She is a grand-granddaughter of Prime Minister Władysław Grabski and President Stanisław Wojciechowski. (jh)