PM promises higher pay, more homes for Poles
Wesprzyj naszą pracę na Go Fund Me. Dziękujemy!Poland’s outgoing conservative prime minister has said he will make efforts to ensure better pay and more new homes for citizens if he manages to form a new government and stay in power.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki meets with reporters at the Warsaw Stock Exchange on Friday, November 17, 2023. X/Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland
Speaking at a news conference in Warsaw on Friday, Mateusz Morawiecki pledged to take steps to increase wages and promote housing construction, among other initiatives by the possible new government under his leadership.
He also promised to launch the country’s first nuclear power plant, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Polish President Andrzej Duda on Monday named Morawiecki, who has led Poland’s government since 2017, as prime minister-designate, tasking him with forming a new Cabinet, following last month’s parliamentary election.
Under the constitution, Morawiecki has until November 27 to unveil his new government.
Meeting with reporters at the Warsaw Stock Exchange on Friday, the prime minister-designate said the new Cabinet would be „non-partisan” and „balanced.”
Morawiecki declared that the new government would „adopt the best policy proposals” from the various political groupings which had won seats in the new parliament, including the centre-right Poland 2050 group, the rural-based Polish People’s Party (PSL), the far-right Confederation group, and the Left party.
He said MPs from these groupings could back his new Cabinet to see „their policy initiatives delivered.”
The prime minister-designate outlined the new Cabinet’s key policy plans, the PAP news agency reported.
These include social insurance breaks and other incentives for small and medium-sized companies; the construction of Poland’s first nuclear power plant; and the launch of a new air hub near Warsaw, known as the Solidarity Transport Hub (CPK).
The new Cabinet would also raise minimum pay so that the average monthly salary reaches PLN 10,000 (EUR 2,300); introduce equal pay for men and women; extend the 0% VAT rate on food; and enact measures to promote home building, according to Morawiecki.
The prime minister-designate said he would unveil the new team of ministers „within eight days.”
Poles elected a new set of 460 MPs and 100 senators when they went to the ballot box last month.
Morawiecki’s ruling conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party won Poland’s October 15 election, but lost its parliamentary majority and looks unlikely to stay in power for a third consecutive term.
A bloc of pro-EU opposition parties on Monday secured a resounding victory in Poland’s new parliament during its first key vote to elect a house Speaker.
On November 10, Poland’s pro-European opposition groups signed an agreement to form a coalition government, pledging to restore the rule of law, promote green energy and relax abortion rules, among other policies.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP
Radio Poland
