“For the upcoming holidays, we will travel in Poland on highways without gates, Minister of Development and Technology Waldemar Buda announced on Radio ZET.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced that he would convene another cabinet meeting this week to discuss the timetable for implementation of all PiS president Jarosław Kaczyński’s proposals.
Depending on whether we talk about the first step we take, i.e. the abolition of tolls on all highways managed by the General Directorate (General Directorate of National Roads and Motorways – PAP), it will cost several hundred million zlotys, depending on when we start. And we want to start on July 1, which is why I will convene another Council of Ministers this week to discuss the timetable for implementing all of President Kaczyński’s proposals
said Morawiecki.
He also added that the government also wants to tackle highways, which are currently operated by concessionaires. He pointed out that toll motorways in Poland are expensive, especially the A2 motorway, “this is one of the most expensive motorways in Europe”.
The Minister of Development and Technology, Waldemar Buda, was questioned about these announcements in the context of, among other things, private highway owners, such as a fragment of the A2 route.
The contract between this company and the Polish state, concluded under (former President of the Republic of Poland Aleksander) Kwaśniewski, is outrageous (…) We must not forget that we are bound by this contractor, which is very unfavorable for Poland
Bud reviewed.
As he said, “we can now do as much as we can to communicate with this entity that we just take these fees on ourselves so that Poles don’t pay them.” He stipulated that “at reduced rates”.
Government negotiations
When asked why a private company should give up potential profits, he replied, “In the name of lowering costs.” He mentioned that nowadays, for example, she collects payments at the gates and employs people to do so.
We will deduct all these costs and pay the minimum amount so that these gates and fees do not exist
– he said.
As Buda explained, “we have to negotiate with them, we have to agree on what rates, we have to agree on what legal mechanism we will do it.”
We’ll fix it in a year. Next vacation it’s solved
he assured.
When asked if people will drive on the highway without gates next summer, he replied: “Yes. To Berlin, to the west of Europe. He added that this would also apply to other toll routes to Katowice and Krakow.
We have to get over this, it will take exactly one year
assured the minister.
When asked what if private companies want to keep the contract, he replied: “There is also a formula for expropriation for public purposes. If no agreement is reached and no willingness to negotiate, we can expropriate the entire area and the court will determine the compensation.
Buda assured that “there will be no such fees, Poles can be calm”.
According to the minister, “even if we buy out for years, pay compensation, these amounts are not alarming.”
On Sunday, PiS president Jarosław Kaczyński, summarizing the “Programowy Street of Law and Justice” convention, announced the abolition of passenger car tolls on highways.
Jarosław Kaczyński said: “There is a problem, something minor, but painful for many people, for car owners who drive on highways and highways. As for state taxes, if only laws can be passed in a timely manner, we will abolish them in the shortest possible time.” As he added, “those situations where highways are private or rented, such accidents also exist, we promise to solve it within a year.”
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– ONLY HERE. Wróblewski: Everyone in Poland will benefit from our proposals. I feel sorry for the opposition, because they have to press ahead
Mon/PAP
Source: wPolityce
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.