Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller said Friday he would resign one day after his country joins the European Union on May 1.

"If my departure is to serve Poland and Poland's left, my choice is to resign from leading the government," Miller said at a joint news conference with President Aleksander Kwasniewski.

He said his decision was made after a group of rebels in his ruling Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) urged him to take responsibility for a record low public support for the government after two and a half years in power.

President Kwasniewski said he respects Miller's decision and would consult with the SLD and other parties in parliament to name a new prime minister on Monday.

According to Poland's constitution, the president appoints the prime minister, but the nomination needs parliament confirmation.

Reports here said Miller could be replaced by his one-time finance minister, Marek Belka, who currently serves as an economic adviser in the United States-led administration in Iraq.

Miller, a former member of Poland's Communist Party, had been under pressure due to an unprecedented wave of scandals, unsuccessful reforms and an unemployment of about 20 percent.

He has earned a reputation as a tough negotiator in the European Union as he won concessions for Poland in the talks on his country's EU entrance. He also successfully gained huge support in last year's referendum on whether Poland should join the bloc.

But the approval rating of his party has dropped to less than 10 percent from 42 percent at 2001 elections as voters switch to anti-European populists or other groups.

Miller quit party leadership last month but refused to quit the government, prompting the walkout by 20 out of SLD's 192 deputies on Friday, led by lower house speaker Marek Borowski.

Borowski helped Miller form the SLD in 1989. But on Friday the speaker strongly criticized his old party and, together with his allies, decided to form a new party.

(Xinhua News Agency March 27, 2004)