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Polish president holds talks with liberal leader Tusk (Roundup)
Nov 6, 2007, 15:51 GMT
Warsaw - A day after the resignation of Poland's conservative prime minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, his twin brother President Lech Kaczynski held political consultations with parties in parliament.
The head of state met with Donald Tusk, the leader of the liberal Civil Platform (PO) whose party won elections on October 21, securing a mandate of 209 of the 460 seats in parliament. Tusk is also candidate for the post as new government leader.
Thereafter, Lech Kaczynski received Waldemar Pawlak of the Polish Peasant's Party (PSL). Both parties want to form a coalition government. Together they share over 240 seats.
According to a presidential spokesman, President Kaczynski would grant Tusk permission to form a new government this week.
After the meeting, Tusk said he would consult the leadership of the PO. He admitted that he and Lech Kaczynski had spoken about the candidacy of Radoslaw Sikorski as foreign minister.
Tusk meanwhile Tuesday said that as election victors, his party wants to end the 'military character' of his country's mission to Iraq next year.
'We want - and I underline this with great emphasis - with the understanding of our most important ally, the United States, to redraft our presence in Iraq,' Tusk said in Warsaw.
Polish military units have been involved with the intervention in Iraq since 2003. Twenty-two Polish soldiers have died since. Currently 900 Polish soldiers are stationed in Iraq.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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