Platforma Opposes Government

Poland's pro-business party Civic Platform (Platforma Obywatelska) decided on Thursday to move into opposition, effectively forcing the minority conservative cabinet to rely on populist groups in next week's confidence vote.

"This is a government which is weak and doomed to cooperate with (the populists). The Civic Platform will not back it in the confidence vote, the Platform said in a declaration passed by the party's national council.

The decision was expected after coalition talks between Civic Platform and the Law and Justice conservatives, which won September 25 elections promising to rule together, broke down last week in a row over cabinet posts and economic policy.