WORLD : Walesa Delays Forming Cabinet

WARSAW — President-elect Lech Walesa today postponed naming a new government until after the New Year’s holiday, saying he must decide between a short-term Cabinet or one intended to last at least a year.

“Lech Walesa fully respects the will of the voters awaiting quick formation of the government. However, he wants to act with reason,” a statement issued by Walesa spokesman Andrzej Drzycimski said.

The statement from Walesa’s press office at his temporary “White House” near Gdansk said the president-elect could nominate a new prime minister and Cabinet that would “live up to social expectations.”

However, such a government would require at least a year to function properly, postponing the first free postwar parliamentary elections, the statement said. “No responsible person will undertake serious tasks for a period of (only) three months,” the statement said. Walesa’s second option is “to leave the old government, with essential corrections, which would survive up to spring elections.”