Polish Primer Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski today dissolved his government ahead of expected elections after 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 to 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 since bitter fighting erupted within the coalition one month ago over the sacking from the government of the leader of Self-Defence.
But an early elections is a big gamble for the Kaczynskis, whose Law and Justice party is trailing in opinion polls behind the pro-business opposition Civic Platform.
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.
Markets have been little ruffled by the crisis, however, and some pundits believe early elections could lead to a government more likely to speed up economic reforms and accelerate the process of joining the euro currency zone.