“Tusk and PO misled Poland about the retirement age,” “Only PiS wants citizens to determine these pivotal issues” – these were the leading statements from PiS politicians after a mock referendum question circulated online.
On Friday, Law and Justice began presenting additional referendum questions.
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— The second referendum question concerns pensions. Szydło argued that Tusk and PO spoke a lot about women yet pushed them to work until exhaustion.
— Beata Szydło: Defending Poland against decisions seen as harmful by the Tusk government regarding retirement age remained PiS’s priority.
– The first referendum question was announced by PiS president Jarosław Kaczyński and reads:
Do you support the sale of state-owned enterprises?
Another referendum question, announced on Saturday by PiS Vice President and former Prime Minister Beata Szydło, asks: Are you in favor of raising the retirement age, which today stands at 60 for women and 65 for men?
Online discussion
Figures from the United Right responded to a social media ad that appeared online. As Antoni Macierewicz, deputy leader of PiS, noted, PO emphasizes women’s issues while advancing policies that raise the retirement age and attract migrants who are seen as a risk to women.
Only PiS intends to return key policy decisions to citizens
– ensure.
The European Commission attempted to push for a higher retirement age in Poland, and the PiS government responded firmly that Poles should decide for themselves. The head of the EC is reportedly hoping for alignment with broader European interests on the Vistula, as noted in a post by PiS Chief of Staff and Party Vice Chairman Joachim Brudziński.
– wrote Brudziński.
Senate Deputy Marshal Marek Pęk asserted that “Tusk and PO misled Poland about retirement age.”
We promised to lower the retirement age and kept our word. We are reliable, he stated.
Pęk’s comments were echoed by others who stressed the opposition’s alleged inconsistencies and sought to reaffirm PiS’s stance on the issue.
Education and Science Minister Przemysław Czarnek described the opposition as frequently untruthful and said that Poles should determine the maximum retirement age once and for all in a referendum, noting that neither Tusk nor Kosiniak-Kamysz could raise it.
On social media, Czarnek highlighted that unlike PO with a narrow focus on family and workforce support, the United Right was introducing social programs like 800 Plus, Dobry Start, and both the 13th and 14th pensions.
Deputy Justice Minister Marcin Warchoł also underscored this contrast, pointing to active social initiatives as evidence of PiS’s governance approach.
Maciej Wąsik, deputy head of the Ministry of Interior and Administration, recalled past policy moves by PO and PSL that raised retirement ages and argued that the Polish people would be asked directly about this reform. He added that there should be no doubt about this approach.
We promised to lower the retirement age and we kept our word, wrote Deputy Foreign Minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk, while noting that decades of effort had granted Poles a chance to rest, enjoy a decent pension, and spend time with family and grandchildren. He also claimed that Tusk and PO misled Poland on retirement age.
Wojciech Skurkiewicz, deputy head of the Ministry of National Defence, referenced the PO-PSL government, arguing that it raised the retirement age without consulting Poles, and cautioned against repeating such a process.
During the campaign, opponents claimed they would not raise the retirement age, yet after the elections they reportedly rejected nearly 2 million citizen signatures and increased the retirement age. This stance drew sharp criticism from Urszula Rusecka, chair of Sejm’s Social Policy and Family committee.
Citizens were urged to participate in the referendum to secure Poland’s future.
As of October 1, 2017, the retirement age stood at 60 for women and 65 for men. The rules restoring the pre-PO-PSL retirement age, which had been raised to 67, were enacted in 2016.
Four referendum questions
PiS spokesman Rafał Bochenek told PAP that the referendum would be framed by four questions and presented to the Sejm in the coming days. The plan was for a two-day Sejm session on August 16 and 17 to consider a motion for a nationwide referendum.
In June, Deputy Prime Minister Kaczyński spoke about relocating migrants within the EU and indicated that this issue should be decided by referendum. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki confirmed plans to hold the referendum alongside autumn parliamentary elections. President Andrzej Duda ordered elections for October 15.
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Source: wPolityce