Polish PM resigns after losing parliamentary confidence vote

Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka lost a parliamentary vote of confidence on Friday and resigned shortly after the vote.

The lower house of parliament voted 262-188 against Belka, who was appointed prime minister on May 2 after his unpopular predecessor Leszek Miller stepped down.

No one abstained out of the 450 parliamentarians present.

The result was anticipated as Belka required 226 votes in the 460-seat lower house to gain the green light to rule. His ruling Democratic Left Alliance only occupies 172 seats in parliament.

Belka tabled a letter of resignation to President Kwasniewski shortly after the vote. The president accepted his resignation, but said he will re-appoint Belka.

Under Polish Constitution, the parliament now has 14 days to find another candidate and form an alternative cabinet. But if the new candidate fails to clear the parliament, the president will have another chance to designate a potential prime minister.

Belka will stay on leading a caretaker government during the time.

Source: Xinhua