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The current government structure consists of a council of ministers led by a Prime Minister, typically chosen from a majority coalition in the bicameral legislature's lower house. The president elected every 5 years is head of state. The judicial branch plays a minor role in decisionmaking.
Former SLD leader Aleksander Kwasniewski was re-elected President in October 2000. Kwasniewski received in the first round 53.9% of the popular vote. In second place was Andrzej Olechowski -- 17.3%. President Kwasniewski has supported Polish membership in NATO and the European Union and backed the SLD's legislative agenda on issues such as redrafting the constitution and abortion liberalization.
The parliament, consisting of 460 members of the Sejm and 100 members of the Senate, was elected in September 2001 in free and fair elections in which 15 political parties participated. The new Constitution and the reformed administrative division (as of 1999) required a revision of the election ordinance (passed in April 2001). The most important changes were liquidation of a national list (all deputies were elected by voters in constituencies) and introduction of a new method of calculating seats (the modified St. League method replaced the d'Hondt method, thus eliminating the premium for the top parties). The law stipulated that with the exception of ethnic parties, only parties receiving at least 5% of the total vote could enter the Sejm. As of October 2001, eight parties and the German minority are represented in the Sejm.
Currently, Poland is led by a minority government, comprised of SLD- UP coalition, under the leadership of Prime Minister Marek BelkaMarek Belka (b. January 9, 1952 in Lodz) is a Polish professor of Economics, designated Prime Minister of Poland by President Aleksander Kwasniewski on March 29, 2004 and sworn into office the next May 2. He failed to receive the required parliamentary su. The government maintains generally pro-market economic policies it priority is bringing Poland's financial house back in order and is committed to a democratic political system.
Previous cabinet led by Leszek MillerLeszek Miller (born 3 July 1946) was Prime Minister of Poland from September 2001 to May 2, 2004. Miller was born in Zyrardow in central Poland. He joined the ruling Polish United Workers' Party party in 1969. Until 1970 he worked as an electrician in a l resigned on 2nd of May 20042004 is a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 2004 calendar), and has also been designated the: International Year of Rice International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition Elections are to be held in 73 co, just after Poland's admission to the European Union. This move is said to be caused by numerous corruption scandals (which includes alleged attempt to interfere with legislation process ( Rywin-gate , so named after main suspect Lew RywinLew Rywin (born November 10, 1945 in a Siberian village) is a Polish film producer associated with Heritage Films (est. Before that he worked in state-run TV. He participated in producing such films as Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List Roman Polanski's) -- this case is investigated by parliament's special committee, whose proceedings are televised; and SLD's MPs and government ministers informing members of their party about secret investigation about them and their links with organized crime) and falling support for SLD party.
In March some prominent SLD's politicians and MPs (including then Speaker of the Sejm: Marek BorowskiMarek Borowski is a Polish politician, the former leader of Sojusz Lewicy Demokratycznej and the former Speaker of the Sejm (the lower house of Polish parliament). Since April 2004 he is the leader and since May 2004 the chairman of a new Polish left-wing) seceded from SLD creating new party Polish Social Democracy ( Socjaldemokracja Polska) SDPL. This was the ultimate reason for Miller's resignation.
Belka's cabinet, failed to win parliamentary support with vote of confidence, and resigned. Attempts to form a new government by the Sejm had failed, and Belka was again designated (June 11) Prime Minister by the President. He finally received Sejm's support in third and last attempt on 24 June.
Along with SLD and SDPL, other parties represented in parliament are: Citizens Platform (Platforma Obywatelska - PO), League of Polish Families (Liga Polskich Rodzin - LPR), Law and Justice (Prawo i Sprwiedliwosc - PiS), Self-Defense of the Polish Republic (Samoobrona), Polish People's Party (Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe - PSL), Labor Union (Unia Pracy - UP), and Conservative People's Alliance (SKL).
Polands next parliamentary elections and presidential election are scheduled for 2005, although Belka promised to ask for vote of confidence during the fall 2004, in order to permit government collapse and earlier elections.
Opinion polls, show the currently ruling post- communist will likely suffer a ignominious defeat and a coalition of conservatives and conservative- liberals will take power, with radical leftists coming in second. The Elections to the European elections in Poland, held on June 13, 2004 ended with a victory of the right, followed by surprisingly strong anti-EU, and votes of the left split between four different parties.
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