Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski has sacked his deputy, raising the prospect of an early general election.

Mr Kaczynski sacked Andrzej Lepper, who leads a junior coalition party, after his name was linked to a major corruption case involving bribes.

Hours later, Mr Lepper withdrew his Self Defence party from government.

Mr Kaczynski told a news conference that an early election might be the only solution to the political crisis.

"The aggression of the opposition makes it impossible to have a minority government", Mr Kaczynski said.

An election could be held in the autumn, two years ahead of schedule.

Self Defence has 46 deputies in the 460-seat Sejm, the lower house of the parliament. Without them, the government can count on the support of only 203 deputies - far short of the 231 needed for a majority.

Soon after the prime minister spoke, the second biggest opposition party, the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), said it would seek a vote of no confidence in the government to force a snap election.

Wojciech Olejniczak, the leader of the SLD, said it would submit the motion to parliament on Tuesday.

Mr Kaczynski sacked Mr Lepper over a major corruption inquiry.

"The decision is based on facts revealed by the Central Anti-Corruption Office regarding large-scale corruption," the prime minister's spokesman said.

Mr Lepper has insisted he is innocent.

Mr Lepper was also sacked from the government last year in a dispute over the budget - but his party was welcomed back later to shore up the coalition.