Polish dismissals ahead of polls

President Kaczynski espouses traditional Catholic values

Poland's president has sacked four government ministers who belong to junior coalition partners, formally paving the way for an early election.

The ministers were replaced with members or allies of the Law and Justice Party (PiS), which has led a shaky coalition plagued by disputes.

President Lech Kaczynski announced the changes on television, alongside his twin brother, PM Jaroslaw Kaczynski.

"The change means the coalition has ended," the prime minister said.

He added that the elections were "not far off".

Last week the conservative government and the main opposition party, Civic Platform, said an early autumn election was "unavoidable".

Tensions escalated in July, when Prime Minister Kaczynski sacked a coalition partner, Self-Defence Party leader Andrzej Lepper.

The following changes were announced on Monday:

• Education Minister - PiS senator Ryszard Legutko replaces Roman Giertych (leader of League of Polish Families, LPR)
• Labour Minister - Joanna Kluzik-Rostkowska replaces Anna Kalata (Self-Defence)
• Construction Minister - former Deputy Finance Minister Miroslaw Barszcz replaces Andrzej Aumiller (Self-Defence)
• Maritime Economy Minister - Marek Grobarczyk replaces Rafal Wiechecki (LPR).

The BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw says parliamentary elections could be held in October or November, but they would be a gamble for the prime minister because Law and Justice is trailing badly in second place in the opinion polls.

Jaroslaw Kaczynski's decision to form a coalition with the populist rural party Self-Defence and the Catholic nationalist party LPR had always been considered controversial by many Poles, our correspondent says.

But allying himself with the fringe parties allowed Mr Kaczynski to push through much of his conservative programme.