Poland's President Lech Kaczynski swore in his twin brother Jaroslaw Kaczynski on Friday as the country's new prime minister, together with most of the same ministers who had served in the last cabinet.

 

In a brief speech, the president told the new Law and Justice-led coalition cabinet: "I wish success on this long road of change in this country."

 

He wished the new government well in overcoming the obstacles to carrying out the "necessary" reforms to create an "efficient", "corruption-free" and "citizen-friendly" Poland.

 

Envisioning a strong Poland, the president also called for a "sovereign" country in the European Union.

 

The new Cabinet remains largely unchanged from the ministers who served under the outgoing prime minister, Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz, who formally resigned on July 10.

 

A new minister without portfolio, Przemyslaw Gosiewski, was added to the new cabinet. Another change to the list of cabinet members was the appointment of a new Finance Minister Stanislaw Kluza, a former bank economist.

 

Jaroslaw Kaczynski had vowed previously to continue the previous government's policies that included promises of fiscal reform, preserving a strong social welfare system and rooting out corruption.

 

The new government still faces a vote of confidence in parliament expected on Wednesday. It is expected to win the vote easily since the coalition enjoys a majority in the 460-seat assembly.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 15, 2006)