Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk ditched three ministers and sacked the head of an anti-graft body yesterday in an effort to draw a line under a lobbying scandal that has harmed his centre-right government’s image.

Financial markets took the news calmly. Crucially for investors, the changes did not involve the finance minister.

Mr Tusk wants to reassure voters in the European Union’s largest ex-communist nation that he will not brook any hint of corruption in his two-year-old government as it fights a sharp economic slowdown and prepares for a presidential election next year in which the premier himself is likely to run.

“Trust is key... In order for the government to continue its work in an atmosphere of trust, my associates and I want to do everything to convince Poles and our political adversaries that we intend to resolve this case in an unbiased manner,” Mr Tusk told a news conference.

Mr Tusk said the interior, justice and deputy economy ministers had resigned over the affair, which involves claims that key officials in Tusk’s Civic Platform (PO) had contacts with businessmen seeking to water down plans to hike taxes on gambling. The officials deny wrongdoing.

Political analysts said Mr Tusk’s brisk handling of the crisis would probably help to minimise any negative political fallout.

“Tusk is now definitely on the attack and I think he’s got a chance of success in turning the tables on the opposition,” said Adam Jasser, progammes director at the DemosEuropa think-tank.

A snap survey conducted by SMG/KRC polling agency for TVN-24 showed two thirds of the 508 Poles canvassed approved of ­yesterday’s dismissals against 19 per cent who disapproved.