“Politicians of the new government will have to decide what to do with this national champion. The easiest way would be to privatize it, after restructuring and selling some of the companies owned by Orlen, said Witold Gadomski, a columnist of this magazine, in an article published in “Gazeta Wyborcza”.
Witold Gadomski, long-time publicist for Adam Michnik’s daily newspaper and former co-founder – together with Donald Tusk and Janusz Lewandowski – of the Liberal Democratic Congress, published an article in ‘Wyborcza’ in which he sharply criticized the way Orlen was led by the PiS government.
The resulting conglomerate became a tool in the hands of ruling politicians. It employs hundreds of people recommended by politicians, conducts propaganda campaigns, is used to solve immediate problems (for example, rescuing the bankrupt Zakłady Azotowe), directly participated in the election campaign by lowering fuel prices, and provides consultancy, PR – and legal companies able to make millions. .
– he declared.
Using several past examples and the experiences of other countries, Gadomski judged that an economic model in which the state retains significant shares and influence is doomed to failure.
The author of the biography of Leszek Balcerowicz, which in this case is quite important information, stated that in his opinion it is impossible to determine the true condition and profits of Orlen, because it plays the role of a monopoly in Poland.
It is still profitable because Orlen has a monopoly in the wholesale fuel market and a dominant share in the retail market. Due to its monopoly position, it is impossible to assess the true profitability and efficiency of capital use. From the perspective of the entire economy, it is a harmful entity
– he explained.
““The indispensability” of privatization
However, Witold Gadomski certainly knows what should happen if his former colleagues from the KLD take ministerial seats. According to him, the most appropriate step in this matter would be to sell Orlen into private hands.
Politicians of the new government will have to decide what to do with this national champion. The easiest way would be to privatize it, after restructuring and selling some of the companies owned by Orlen. PO, Left, PSL and Poland 2050 politicians should not be tempted to keep the champion and use him as PiS politicians did.
– he declared.
In this context, Gadomski also expressed some disappointment due to the fact that Poland did not privatize the energy sector during the government of Donald Tusk, which in his opinion was mainly due to the fear of accusations from the opposition, which on the face of it and Justice was. that time, as well as social discontent.
Donald Tusk’s government has not liberalized or privatized the energy program. In 2011, the Minister of Finance negotiated with Kulczyk Investments about the sale of a controlling stake in Enea, but ultimately the transaction did not take place. The government feared that large-scale privatization would be attacked by the opposition. He also forced the largest energy company – PGE – to make a major investment in a power plant (coal) at the Opole power station.
– he emphasized.
The liberal faction in the Civic Platform is probably looking forward to the moment when it will be possible to sell Orlen and put it into private hands. However, I wonder what potential coalition partners of PSL and especially the New Left, for which Witold Gadomski is certainly not an economic ‘guru’, will say about this.
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pn/Gazeta Wyborcza
Source: wPolityce