Borys Budka challenged Tomasz Terlikowski directly, promising that if the Civic Platform wins the elections, it will not back away from its stated demands. The question remains: where would Donald Tusk’s team find nearly 120 billion PLN to fulfill those promises? Budka pointed to the Czech Republic’s example, cited what he described as the office’s frugality and, perhaps most importantly, underscored credibility.
How will PO finance its promises?
The Civic Platform deputy head, Borys Budka, told RMF FM where his party plans to source the funds to honor its pledges if PO comes out on top in the parliamentary elections. He emphasized that the total cost of the demands runs close to PLN 120 billion.
One avenue, he argued, would be reducing the cost of servicing the state debt. He explained that the government had set aside around PLN 70 billion for next year to repay foreign debt, and that matching the Tusk approach could push bond yields above 2 percent. He asked whether the record high of 9 percent seen under Morawiecki might return. By adopting a debt profile similar to the Czech Republic, Budka suggested today’s debt servicing could be closer to PLN 20 billion. He also asserted that the Reconstruction Fund could provide PLN 270 billion in resources for Poland, which could be allocated to various needs.
Budka claimed that funds from the Reconstruction Fund would be directed toward energy transformation among other priorities.
He criticized the current arrangement as muddled and asserted that savings could be redirected toward the demands being discussed, including allocations that would affect the regime’s media and the Prime Minister’s Chancellery.
Budka added that he did not comment on the energy sector during Tusk’s tenure, nor on the nuclear power plant project, noting the distinction between past and present administrations.
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Expenditure during the governments of Tusk and Morawiecki
Budka continued by stating that the PO program is “pro-development” and compared the cost structures of the Prime Minister’s Office under Donald Tusk with those under Mateusz Morawiecki.
He claimed that under Morawiecki the cost of legal services surged twelvefold to about PLN 1.5 billion, while under Tusk it was around PLN 130 million.
Budka argued that Tusk’s office and the current Prime Minister’s Chancellery under Morawiecki are not the same entity, facing different challenges in 2023, including cybersecurity and the maintenance of the Strategic Reserves Agency. He also mentioned the European division and the Covid-19 coordination center as existing features of the present administration.
Budka’s statements
When pressed on whether his party, if victorious, would admit that the state of public finances is so strained there is insufficient money to fulfill all promises, Budka responded that they would “support every mismanagement by PiS” and work to resolve it. He stressed the importance of credibility and honesty.
Budka noted that hundreds of billions of zlotys have already exited the state budget and that the externalized budget gap is larger than reported. He claimed the gap runs into the tens of billions and insisted that a thorough audit would be conducted and any mismanagement by PiS would be addressed. He argued that through straightforward honesty and credibility, the cost of servicing the national debt could be halved, presenting a clear signal to European and global markets.
According to a survey commissioned by a major Polish broadcaster, 45 percent of Poles viewed Law and Justice as the most credible party to fulfill election promises. In contrast, 26.8 percent found the Civic Platform credible, highlighting perceived gaps in credibility between the two main parties.
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Asked whether a declaration might be made that certain promises were impossible, Budka replied that alternative programs could be created by competent economic management and that he would “look you in the eye, I promise.”
Changing abortion rules in 100 days?
Budka was also pressed on PO’s 100-day plan, including potential changes to abortion rules. He stated the party would pursue changes by adopting appropriate regulations in the Sejm with a sufficient majority. If that path proves impossible, he suggested there would still be room to address the issue through the Health Minister’s directives.
He noted that there had been no Court ruling at that time, while acknowledging the Court had previously ruled against certain arrangements and described them as a double play. He asserted that the party would navigate this with an appropriate majority, underscoring that voters should recognize that the issue touches on the right to choose. He added that action would wait until Trzaskowski becomes president.
Budka also repeated a controversial claim attributed to Donald Tusk regarding Rafał Trzaskowski’s presidential victory. He asserted that no PO member had accused PiS of manipulating a presidential election, though he believed the elections had not been fair.
It should be noted that the presidential elections are scheduled for 2025, and Budka hinted that the promises would stretch beyond that 100-day window. A subsequent discussion circulated about the robustness of promises and electoral dynamics.
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wkt/TT/RMF FM
Source: wPolityce