Prime Minister Hanna Suchocka lost a no-confidence vote Friday and her government fell, plunging Poland into a new round of political chaos.
A stunned Suchocka watched the parliament vote against her 223-198 as the Solidarity trade union that helped bring her to power turned against her.It was the fifth government to fall since the Communists were toppled in 1989.
The 223 votes were the absolute minimum needed to bring down the government. One government backer who was too late for the vote could have made the difference.
The no-confidence vote was brought by deputies from the Solidarity trade union, which now contends Suchocka's economic reforms have hurt too much. Solidarity had threatened a nationwide general strike if the no-confidence motion failed.
There were 445 of the 460 members present in the Sejm, the powerful lower house, for the vote. A simple majority was needed to oust the government. There were 198 votes supporting the government, and 24 abstentions.
No leading candidate for prime minister has emerged. Nor has any realistic alternative to Suchocka's tough plan for salvaging the old socialist economy by creating a free market and refusing to print money without backing for pay raises and social benefits.
In fact, it was not even clear how the government should be replaced.
President Lech Walesa can accept the Suchocka government's resignation and appoint a new prime minister, perhaps even give Suchocka the chance to form a new government. Or Walesa can dissolve parliament and call an early vote, leaving the Suchocka government in place until a new government is elected .
"I have a solution for every situation," Walesa said leaving parliament. Asked what it was, he answered: "Always a better one."
Walesa went into a meeting with Suchocka and her Cabinet. Meanwhile, the parliament took a recess, and political leaders huddled for emergency negotiations.
Suchocka called it irresponsible to oust her when there was no one ready to step in.