Poland delays early election vote

Mr Kaczynski hopes to avert early elections

Poland's conservative Law and Justice party has gained more time to rebuild the governing coalition.

Its motion to suspend the sitting of parliament until next Tuesday was approved with the support of its former ally, the Self-Defence party.

Parliament had been due to vote on Thursday on calling fresh elections.

Last month Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski sacked his populist deputy, Self-Defence leader Andzrej Lepper, over his opposition to the budget.

Law and Justice originally said it would support new elections if it failed to put together a government.

However, it has slumped in the opinion polls and has redoubled its efforts to revive the coalition.

"It is too early, however, to say what coalition this will be," Mr Kaczynski said, after he won the five-day reprieve for negotiations with potential partners.

"If we do not manage to form a majority, we will support the motion to dissolve parliament," he added.

Last month Law and Justice expelled Self-Defence from the coalition, accusing its leader of obstructing government with his opposition to the budget and to Polish troop deployments to Afghanistan.

Mr Lepper has demanded increased public spending on farmers, social welfare, healthcare and pensions in next year's budget.

However, he was upbeat about the chances for a new deal.

"Our coalition agreement will be finalised on Monday," Mr Lepper said after Self-Defence decided to back the Law and Justice motion on the adjournment of parliament.

The Law and Justice party came to power in September last year after narrowly winning general elections. Its latest coalition with Self-Defence and a radical nationalist party lasted only four months.