Poland’s president, PM to discuss alternative defence funding plan

President Karol Nawrocki will meet Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Tuesday, March 10, to discuss a proposal to channel 185 billion zlotys ($46 billion) from the National Bank of Poland into defense spending through a new financing mechanism, officials said.

Donald Tusk i Karol NawrockiWojciech Olkusnik/East News

The meeting, scheduled for 15:00 local time on March 10, will also include central bank governor Adam Glapiński and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.

Talks are expected to focus on Nawrocki’s proposal for a program called SAFE 0%, which he has described as a „safe alternative” to the European SAFE initiative.

The plan would allocate 185 billion zlotys for defense through a system of interest-free loans supported by the central bank and not subject to conditionality mechanisms linked to European funding programs.

Deputy Defense Minister Stanisław Wziątek told Polish Radio he hoped the meeting would allow politicians to learn more about the details of the presidential proposal.

Jakub Stefaniak, deputy head of the prime minister’s office, said he expected the talks would also address Poland’s position on the European SAFE program.

Meanwhile, former education minister Anna Zalewska from the Law and Justice PiS party said the public would learn more about the proposal on Wednesday, adding she expected it to be a better solution than the European plan.

Nawrocki has until March 20 to decide whether to sign legislation implementing the European SAFE program in Poland.

(aj)

SOURCE: IAR

Radio Poland