Polish farm minister is sacked

Poland's agriculture minister Andrzej Lepper, has been dismissed in a dispute over a finance issue, leading to the collapse of the governing coalition.

Lepper, leader of the Self Defence Party, asked for high state expenditure on agriculture, education and health. His demands are reported to have undermined the government's efforts to control the budget deficit.

His party had also opposed plans to send soldiers to Afghanistan on budget grounds.

Prime minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski now plans continue governing without the Lepper's party. In case this fails, new elections are likely before the end of the year.

Lepper was also deputy prime minister since May.

Editor PigProgress