Tusk’s housing pledge ignites debate in Poland
During a gathering with voters in Łódź, President Tusk unexpectedly declared that a flat should be a right rather than a commodity. He also promised that if the Civic Coalition wins power, the first apartment for people under 45 could be financed with a zero percent loan, accompanied by subsidies of 600 PLN per month to ease rental costs.
Did Tusk borrow a slogan from the left?
He offered no concrete calculations for the loan or rent subsidies, stating only that the initial year would cost the state budget 4 billion PLN. It remained unclear whether such loans would be capped annually or how long the subsidies would continue. The left reacted with alarm, especially politicians from the Together party, which had popularized the slogan housing as a right, not a commodity, in public discourse and immediately accused the PO chairman of stealing their electoral catchphrase.
Janusz Wojciechowski, a major developer with JW Construction in Warsaw, weighed in with a measured response, remarking that the proposal might be read as a nod to developers.
“Political promises hold only for those who believe in them.”
Critics characterize the housing proposal as more of a political stunt than a true program, noting the lack of detailed justification or calculations. Some see it as a tactic to deflect attention from ongoing issues facing the party, including arrests of key activists tied to the Warsaw waste scandal. It is also worth recalling how past pledges by PO politicians have fared when converting promises into action.
In conversations overheard in a restaurant, prominent PO figures such as Radosław Sikorski and Jan Vincent Rostowski reportedly quipped about election promises, suggesting that promises are not always kept and that political commitments can be unreliable.
The housing plan presented by Tusk appears to echo a longstanding aim to position the slogan against PiS as a political centerpiece, a push that has been carried forward by the PO for years. It has invited scrutiny and debate about the true cost to the state and the feasibility of such measures.
PiS program “First Apartment”
The housing program proposed by the Cabinet of Law and Justice last December presents a different approach. The program rests on two pillars. The first offers young people seeking their first home a loan with a fixed rate of 2 percent, enabling purchases on either the primary or secondary market up to 500,000 PLN for a single household or 600,000 PLN for larger households. The second pillar centers on a savings element designed to help fund a future apartment, with flexible monthly payments and an expected rate that exceeds inflation.
The loan is subsidized by the state to cover the difference between the market rate and the 2 percent fixed rate for the first decade, after which the subsidy ends. The savings component runs from three to ten years and requires monthly contributions between 500 and 2,000 PLN, with at least 11 payments per year.
Interest earned on the housing savings account would combine bank interest with an additional yield tied to either the average annual inflation or the rise in the price per square meter of housing, depending on which indicator favors the saver in a given year. If the saver uses these funds for residential purposes within five years after the savings period ends, the extra interest is added to the principal and can significantly boost the total funds available for a future home.
The program also considers families who already own a home but wish to upgrade, with eligibility based on living space up to 50 square meters for families with two children, 75 square meters for three children, 90 square meters for four children, and no limit for larger families.
Will unemployment rise if the PO returns to power?
Poland recently experienced a decline in unemployment, filtering into the EU’s lowest rates and contributing to a healthier labor market. This period saw wage growth, including increases to the minimum wage and various support programs for families, along with targeted tax reductions for younger workers. The housing plan is viewed by some as a political response to these developments, aimed at appealing to younger voters and those seeking affordable housing.
Critics argue that no government has done more for young people in recent years than the current leadership, and they caution against being swayed by promises that may not translate into tangible benefits. Some observers suggest that if the PO comes to power, the job market could soften again and opportunities abroad might present themselves for younger workers seeking employment opportunities overseas, rather than benefiting from a zero percent loan.
This topic has been the subject of ongoing discussion and media commentary, reflecting a broader debate about housing policy, economic priorities, and political accountability. [citation: wPolityce]