Warsaw (People's Daily) - Beata Szydlo resigned Thursday morning as Poland's prime minister and Mateusz Morawiecki set to fill the top vacancy.  

Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo. Source:  wgospodarce.pl 

Thursday evening, standing outside of the Law and Justice (PiS) headquarters in Warsaw, party spokesperson Beata Mazurek told reporters Morawiecki was their choice.

The 49-year-old Moreawiecki was one of Szydlo's deputies where he served as finance and economic minister. A former banker, fluent in English and German, is expected to be a strong fit with EU leaders.

Polish Finance and Development Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will be Poland’s new Prime Minister. Source: wiadomosci.wp.pl

Mazurek said Szydlo handed in her resignation to PiS leaders early Thursday and was quickly accepted.

PiS leaders will hang on to Szydlo and there’s speculation she could fill the deputy prime minister seat. 

Polish Cabinet changes will be announced next month. A vote of confidence on the Morawiecki appointment is expected soon.

PiS became the country’s ruling law body in October 2015 after winning the national election. Szydlo’s Cabinet has public support but PiS decision-makers wanted a leader that could stimulate economic development.

Commentators said the change reflects a strong government focus on development for the next two years.

According to Polish news agency PAP, Szydło said PiS will focus on policies designed to stimulate growth for 2018 in efforts to streamline the country’s “historically lowest unemployment rate ever, its highest six-year economic growth and high public finance results.”