Poland's PM fires Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski in major government reshuffle

WARSAW, Poland – Poland's prime minister has fired Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski in a major government reshuffle that is to breathe new energy into Poland's longest-serving team under democracy.

Donald Tusk said Wednesday he appointed "very gifted economist" Mateusz Szczurek to be the new head of state finance.

Tusk also fired some other ministers, including the environment head Marcin Korolec, who is currently presiding U.N. talks on preventing global warming, held in Warsaw. Korolec is keeping his role at the U.N. talks, Tusk said.

Tusk, who took office in 2007, said the long-expected changes are intended to give the team "new energy," especially in fueling the economy with recently allotted European Union funds.