Vote of confidence

Poland's new government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, won a parliamentary vote on confidence on Saturday a day after announcing far-reaching austerity measures aimed at cutting spiraling debt and protecting Poland's economy from Europe's debt crisis.

Lawmakers voted 234 to 211 in support of the two-party coalition comprising Tusk's center-right Civic Platform and the small, agrarian Polish People's Party. Two parliamentarians abstained and 13 others were absent.

"Nearly all of the opposition leaders, even if they would not vote for the government, have said they were ready to work together on some of my proposals," Tusk told the parliament.

"I didn't propose anything that would buy easy popularity. I put forward very hard and difficult tasks. This is a very good sign for the public and international opinion," he added.

Tackling state debt

Tusk's austerity reforms include rising the retirement age and eliminating many tax and pension privileges. Ahead of the vote, the prime minister said his reform program would reap some 10 billion zlotys (2.2 billion euros, $3 billion) in annual savings from 2013.

Election success in October gave Tusk's pro-market party a mandate to lead the government for a second consecutive term. With a majority in the 460-seat lower house, the governing coalition had been expected to survive the vote.

Tusk was the first incumbent leader to win re-election since the collapse of communism over two decades ago.

Author: Charlotte Chelsom-Pill (Reuters, AP)

Editor: Sean Sinico