Policy Debates and Housing Measures Amid Political Reorganization

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Donald Tusk has shown that he prioritizes narrative over plain truth, according to Waldemar Buda, Minister of Development and Technology, in an interview on wPolsce.pl.

The minister, who appeared as a guest on Maciej Wolny’s program, praised the conduct and quality of the Law and Justice election campaign, noting especially the organizational changes within the campaign team and Jarosław Kaczyński’s return to government.

PiS election campaign

There is a clear upshift in momentum. After June 4, the team regrouped and conducted a thorough evaluation of their approach. The campaign has shifted into a higher gear with a new Chief of Staff and the formal leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński, who now unites the movement with a single, coordinated message. There are no factions or internal divisions; instead, everyone supports Kaczyński with a common purpose.

Waldemar Buda stressed that Kaczyński’s authority within the United Right coalition is crucial. He believes that placing Kaczyński in the deputy prime minister role will help align PiS with its coalition partners and strengthen election efforts ahead of the autumn parliamentary vote.

According to Buda, a new framework of terms and general expectations has been established and embraced by all involved. He indicated that any deviation from this shared approach would risk destabilizing the political effort, acknowledging that unity and visible agreement have become a defining feature of the current strategy.

The minister also commented on the aggressive tone of Donald Tusk’s campaign, noting that at a recent rally in Wrocław Tusk portrayed Jarosław Kaczyński’s policies as pro-Russian. He argued that Tusk has reinforced an emphasis on sensational storytelling while de-emphasizing truth, warning that those tactics damage public trust and will eventually be exposed.

In his view, the pattern of exaggeration and misrepresentation will not hold up under scrutiny, and even voters who previously backed the PO may resist such rhetoric.

Housing policy

On July 1, 2023, the State Aid Savings for Residential Purposes Act is set to come into force. The program marks a potential milestone for housing policy by introducing the government’s First Apartment initiative and offering the possibility of obtaining a secure loan with an interest rate of 2%. The state would support these loans through guarantees to lenders.

Discussions are ongoing, and the banking sector currently includes a group with a dominant portion of the mortgage market. The rollout of the program is expected to reach a satisfactory level of participation, even if individual banks have yet to finalize their readiness. Many institutions are in the process of coordinating systems and approvals before joining the program.

Minister Bud predicted that eight banks would participate initially, forming a core group essential to the housing program, and expected broader participation by year’s end. He noted ongoing challenges with tender processes and system reconfigurations, which naturally take time for banks to implement. Banks with existing capabilities in this area, such as PKO Bank, can accelerate their readiness. Accessibility to the program should not pose a problem, though the novelty of the approach means it will take time to realize its full impact on housing affordability.

From Bud’s perspective, the central challenge lies in the entry barrier to home ownership for first-time buyers. He emphasized that buying a first apartment is a crucial step toward starting a family, achieving independence, and raising children. If this issue isn’t addressed promptly, a generational pattern of housing insecurity may persist, affecting long-term family formation and economic stability.

In summary, the government views the housing initiative as a meaningful step toward expanding affordable homeownership and modernizing the mortgage market, while acknowledging the practical hurdles that banks and lenders must overcome to deliver the program effectively.

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