Politicians Making Millions

Greedy Politicians

In 2012, the ruling Civic Platform (PO) registered a total income of more than PLN 53 million, making it Poland’s richest political party. PO’s financial statements for the last year show that without money from the budget politicians would be penniless. The state budget is the main source of income for all of Poland’s parliamentary parties. If they were to rely on payments and donations from their supporters only, they would have no chance of survival. Curiously, the report also shows that the largest party did not make use of professional advice from experts. Contrary to previous announcements, most parliamentary groups spent negligible sums of money on expert economic, legal or social advice, as they prefer to use the money on election campaigns. Of PO’s PLN 53 million, PLN 48 million came from the state coffers. The party obtained less than PLN 2.4 million from contributions from supporters, while only PLN 1 million from donations. Civic Platform spent less than PLN 800,000 on expert advice with the majority of this amount, about PLN 733,000, spent on publishing materials. Law and Justice (PiS) is similarly wealthy, with an income of almost PLN 50 million last year, out of which PLN 47 million came from the state coffers. It would be also impossible for Jarosław Kaczyński’s party to survive if it was financed exclusively by contributions from its members and supporters. Last year PiS made a meagre PLN 2 million PLN from membership fees and PLN 55,000 came from donations from supporters. According to their accounts, one supporter, a banker from Poznań, contributed a record payment of PLN 20,000 to the party. Additionally, PiS made PLN 670,000 on bank interest and spent PLN 2 million on expert advice in 2012. Other parties registered much less. The Polish People’s Party (PSL) registered an income of PLN 15 million, the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) PLN 14.3 million, while Palikot’s Movement (RP) registered an income of PLN 8.5 million.
Rp.pl

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Polish President Wants Shield

“The Shield Needs to be THIS big”

President Komorowski has suggested that the building of a Missile Shield Defence Facility would be capable of protecting the country against air attacks. Today, two years has passed since Bronisław Komorowski’s was sworn into office. On his second anniversary, he suggested the building of a Polish Missile Shield, which would be a part of a shared shield of countries belonging to NATO. When Barack Obama assumed the presidency of the USA in 2009, the concept of building the shield changed. The USA decided against building a shield that would use long-range anti-missiles stationed in Poland, which before was suggested by George W. Bush. Komorowski convinces the Polish public that they have to have a Polish Missile Shield because spending large amounts of money on military technology is nonsense if it is not protected against the most typical and dangerous missile and air attacks.

The Polish president said that at present Poland has systems that are becoming old and less suitable for defending the country. Stanisław Koziej, the head of the National Security Bureau (BBN), explained that this system would be complementary to the elements of a system which, according to future plans, Americans would station in Poland in 2018. Parliamentary representatives are positive about the idea. According to Stefan Niesiołowski (Civic Platform), the head of the Parliamentary Defence Committee, Poland has the technical know-how to create such a system. The creation of a system of anti-missile defence in Europe is a bone of contention between Poland and Russia as well as between both the USA, NATO and Russia. Moscow considers the project to be a threat to its security. It demands that Washington give legal guarantees that the American system will not be targeted against it. The USA refuses to give such a guarantee, but NATO assures Russia that the shield will not be targeted at Russia.
Gazeta Wyborcza

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Victory of Polish Patriotism

Smuda to Blame?

Poland’s football players did not live up to the nation’s expectations. However, journalist Dominik Zdort regards Euro 2012 “a splendid time for patriotic emotions.” The Rzeczpospolita journalist said on TOK FM radio that, “I have watched masses of Poles in white-and-red T-shirts with pleasure. It’s a positive awakening.” He added, “Such excitement is necessary for the country to feel a certain togetherness.” It is interesting that Dominik Zdort does not belong to the group of journalists heavily criticising Polish manager Franciszek Smuda. He stated, “I like this young team. I would not dismiss coach Smuda either, even though he made mistakes in  tactics.” Being a political journalist, Zdort could not resist adding a political twist: “This national team is politically pluralistic. There were hints that Robert Lewandowski is a Civic Platform (PO) supporter and Kuba Błaszczykowski is pro Law and Justice (PiS), but they managed to play together very well.” According to the Rzeczpospolita journalist, Franciszek Smuda and PM Donald Tusk are alike with regard to their… reluctance to make changes. Also, Marek Zając from TVP (Polish TV) shares the opinion that Euro 2012 is a chance for Poles to demonstrate their patriotism. However, he has does not agree with Zdort with regards to the team. “We lost mentally. I blame the manager, Franciszek Smuda, who was supposed to motivate his team to fight from the beginning right until the end.” He added, “Remember how Smuda announced before the Greece match that if the game was looking like finishing a draw he would not throw players on to attack. Before the Russia game Smuda said that he would be satisfied with a draw. It now looks like this drawing attitude, and not playing for a win, backfired on Smuda.”

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We Will Work for 67 Years

Time to Start Moaning?

There will not be a retirement age referendum. Most Poles will work until they reach 67 years of age. The ruling coalition wants to allow earlier retirement, but for the price of a very low pension. The compromise between the Civil Platform (PO) and the Polish Peasant Party (PSL) ends the crisis in the coalition. The negotiations between PO and PSL activists about raising the retirement age lasted over one month. The aim of the compromise is that the retirement age for women and men be made equal and be gradually increased until it reaches 67 years. However, if one wants to, the would-be pensioner can retire earlier: women at 62 years old and men at 67 years old. This is the so-called ‘partial pension’. In order to receive it, one has to agree to one more condition, that it have the appropriate pension contributions. With regard to women this amounts to 35 years’ worth of contributions, and in the case of men 40 years’ worth. According to calculations made by Łukasz Wacławik, a specialist in social insurance, a man who earns PLN 3,500 will receive PLN 841 monthly on a partial pension, or PLN 1,578 if they work for another two years. If he does not take a partial pension and works until he is 67 years old, he will receive almost PLN 200 more, that is, in total, PLN 1,766. Moreover, a woman who earns PLN 3,500 monthly will receive PLN 736 partial pension. After five years, when she switches to a normal pension, she will receive PLN 1,245. If she works until 67 years of age, she will receive PLN 1,682. The agreement made between PO and PSL resulted in their voting against the rejection of a motion by the Solidarity Trade Union calling for a referendum in regard to the raising of the retirement age. Over a few thousand unionists went to the debate in Warsaw.
Gazeta Wyborcza

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The 3rd Anniversary

Is Tusk Happy?

Today is the third anniversary of the Civic Platform – Polish People’s Party (PO-PSL) coalition. All government ministers have sent their reports to the prime minister in which they have presented their achievements. What can the  government be proud of? Probably with EU grant expenditure and investments for Euro 2012. What is interesting, the government has always willingly summarised its ‘anniversaries’. However, this time, the closer we get to the end of the government’s tenure, the less the government is willing to report on its achievements. Over the last three years, the government has not implemented many of its promises, often making decisions inconsistent with its pledges.

For example, it promised to reduce taxes but Poles are now having to face an VAT increase (from 22% to 23%) from January next year. The government blames this on the crisis, however, Civic Platform has also not succeeded in introducing a one-mandate electoral system for parliamentary elections, limiting the power of the diplomatic immunity of parliamentarians and reforming KRUS (the Agricultural Social Insurance Fund). A pension reform has only just been started. PM Tusk succeeded in withdrawing the Polish army from Iraq, introducing a ‘regular’ army, separating the functions of the minister of justice and the attorney general, implementing regulations regarding the extension of maternity leave and enabling 6-year-old children to go to school. The process of building stadia for Euro 2012 and so-called Orliks (school playing fields) also looks promising.
Rzeczpospolita

Free Wise Men

PO Gives Us a Royal Gift

The representatives of all parliamentary clubs (parties) have declared their readiness to support Civic Platform’s (PO) project of making the 6th of January (Epiphany) a day free from work. Simultaneously, PO has proposed the removal of the labour code regulation which gives employees the opportunity to take a day in lieu for a holiday which falls on Saturday. The party wishes to introduce the amendments to the labour code in such a way that an additional holiday would not increase the amount of holidays. The concept is supported by the coalition partner, the Polish Peasant Party (PSL). “This will bring back the traditional Polish holiday, which was abolished by the Communists. On the other hand, this solution will not be a burden on the economy and it is therefore worth supporting,” according to PSL member Janusz Piechociński. On the 6th of January, the Catholic Church celebrates the Revelation of God the Son, the Epiphany, the feast of the Biblical Magi: Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar. Epiphany was a holiday free from work in Poland until 1960.
Dziennik

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Henryka Krzywonos to Join PO?

Krzywonos for PO?

Henryka Krzywonos, the woman who not only stopped the trams as part of the Solidarity strikes in 1980 but stopped the lies of Jarosław Kaczyński in 2010 is being touted as a future senator for Civic Platform (PO) in next year’s elections to the Senate. Krzysztof Lisek, a PO MEP has gone on record saying that Krzywonos as senator would be “good for Poland”. He also says that if she is interested in working for the public good, a place in the Senate would be the icing on the cake for her wonderful career. However, MEP Lisek is quick to add that no one has yet spoken to Krzywonos about such an offer. Just as well because the woman in question, when asked about such a proposal replied, “There’s no chance of that happening. I will not become involved in politics”.
Wprost

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Nałęcz To Advise Komorowski

Nałęcz - Presidential Aide

Professor Tomasz Nałęcz, the well-known and much-liked historian and left-wing politician who hit the headlines when he became chairman of the so-called ‘Rywingate’ parliamentary investigative commission, is set to become one of President Komorowski’s advisors. In 2009 he declared that he would be running for President, however, in 2010 he put his faith in Komorowski and backed the current President. Tomasz Nałęcz (Social Democracy of Poland) becomes the first left-wing politician to be invited to become an advisor to the (formerly PO) President.
Rzeczpospolita

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Kaczyński’s Popularity On The Rise

Happy At Last

Bronislaw Komorowski is still in the lead but the margin of his potential victory is steadily declining as Jaroslaw Kaczyński  refuses to let up. If the presidential elections were to be held at the beginning of June, Komorowski would emerge victorious with a fairly comfortable lead of 50% of votes to Kaczyński’s 38% in the first round. If a second round were necessary, Komorowski would also win – 58% to Kaczyński’s 42%. The support for the Civic Platform (PO) candidate has been steady over the past month, at 50%, while Kaczyński’s has gone up 5%, from 30% in May. Second round estimates also show Komorowski as the leader but Kaczyński is clearly gaining on his political adversary.

It is apparent that the majority of Poles have decided that in the race for the presidency only Komorowski and Kaczyński are worthy of their vote: the two main contenders can count on the support of nearly 90% of the population. Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) candidate Napieralski can expect a mere 5% while others, including Olechowski, a maximum of 2% each. In round 2, Komorowski is likely to receive all the votes of Olechowski and Napieralski while Kaczyński can expect to receive the backing of those who favour Marek Jurek, Korwin-Mikke and Ziętek. According to sociologists, the above results show that in spite of the exhausting influence of the Smoleńsk tragedy and the flood the campaign is dynamic and that anything is possible: both Komorowski’s first-round victory and Kaczyński’s continuing upward trend may ultimately result in his surpassing his opponent and pulling off a last-minute upset. Kaczyński’s gaining in the polls is attributed to the fact that he has been very active recently and seems to have a clearly-defined vision for Poland while Komorowski does not. The PO camp is nonetheless confident that their candidate will maintain his lead and prove his mettle when it counts the most – during the election itself.
Gazeta Wyborcza

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Minister of Finance Sick of Winter

Winter of Discontent

“I’m sick and tired of winter both privately and as Minister of Finance,” Jacek Rostowski told RMF FM. According to Rostowski, “this winter will definitely not have a positive effect on our GDP. It is hard to say how much this winter will cost the budget”. He added, “it could be more than a few tenths of one percent of our GDP this quarter. We will have to see because the structure of the economy has changed greatly since the last time Poland experienced such extreme weather conditions.” Poland’s Minister of Finance has also commented on the possible PO (Civic Platform) candidates for president. “My guess is Radek Sikorski. Attacks coming from PiS (Law and Justice) are a sign of fear.” In an article in today’s Newsweek, Jarosław Kaczyński claimed that “there is a specific incident that will bring discredit upon Sikorski, but it cannot be revealed yet because it is classified.”
Onet.pl

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