US embassy cable - 05WARSAW1358

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