Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski has broken up his coalition government ahead of expected early elections by sacking ministers from two small junior coalition parties.
'The change means the coalition has ended' Mr Kaczynski said at the office of President Lech Kaczynski, his twin brother, as new ministers were appointed.
They will replace those from the far-right League of Polish Families and rural-based leftist Self-Defence.
Early parliamentary elections have been on the cards in the biggest ex-communist EU member since bitter fighting erupted within the fractious coalition one month ago.
The Kaczynskis have governed during a spell of fast economic growth but have failed to quell constant political infighting and squabbled repeatedly with other European Union leaders.
An early election is a big gamble for the Kaczynskis.
Their Law and Justice party is trailing in opinion polls behind the pro-business opposition Civic Platform.
Roman Giertych, the deputy prime minister and leader of the League is among the dismissed ministers.
The three other ministers headed construction, labour and fisheries.
