Leaders at the top of political life were urged to face reality: there is little to celebrate amid current economic data. The head of the Civic Platform, Donald Tusk, spoke in Racibórz on Tuesday about the latest figures from the Central Statistical Office, noting a decline in food sales. He emphasized that Polish families are beginning to tighten their belts on groceries as prices and costs rise.
Speaking during a briefing at the Ensol plant in Racibórz, a hub for the solar energy sector, the former prime minister referenced February’s year-on-year data showing a fall in retail sales by about five percent. He also recalled reports from a few days earlier showing a 1.2 percent drop in industrial production in February.
It was a modest drop, yet it represented the sharpest post-pandemic decline and, according to Tusk, the outlook was troubling. Today’s news that retail sales fell by five percent, against forecasts of a 1.4 percent drop, especially weighed on the mood. Food sales were the hardest hit, he noted.
Poles are cutting back on food purchases, and this is not a sign of wealth. The moment demands vocal calls for change, because high prices and policies that risk a shaky economy require urgent reconsideration, the head of the opposition argued.
These are no longer trivial concerns. They are not tied solely to election cycles; day after day, week after week, there could be a larger problem emerging. Tusk mentioned a brief meeting with local business leaders, including the head of Tokai, a graphite producer, who shared data that underscored the difficulty. The firm faces energy costs that have surged from about PLN 150 million to over PLN 450 million annually, illustrating the scale of the challenge for energy-intensive industries.
This scale signals a serious situation. It is not only statistics; it is visible in every corner of the economy—from modern, ambitious companies to smaller firms and everyday grocery stores—where signs point to growing unease. The moment, in Tusk’s view, is a clear signal to raise the alarm and seek decisive action at every level, much as decisive action helped in other local crises.
In Racibórz, the Ensol plant sits near Rafako, a power boiler producer. At the start of the briefing, Marek Langer, president of Rafako’s independent trade union, thanked Tusk for a previous commitment in January. On Monday, Tauron and Rafako reportedly reached a settlement framework with the public prosecutor over a 910-megawatt unit in Jaworzno, worth more than PLN 6 billion. The agreement would have the parties waive claims beyond those covered by the settlement once it takes effect.
Earlier this year, Tusk toured Rafako and met staff amid a dispute where Tauron pressed Rafako to pay more than PLN 1.3 billion in penalties, while Rafako questioned Tauron’s demands and signaled possible bankruptcy. Tusk later highlighted the need for government intervention to safeguard Polish companies rather than let them fail, arguing that state support should be used to fortify industry in Upper Silesia and across Poland.
Rafako was contracted to build the 910-megawatt unit in Jaworzno, a project connected to Tauron, and the parties had faced ongoing arguments about the unit’s operation. In February, under mediation with the General Prosecutor’s Office, a preliminary agreement was announced, with a final settlement set for early March and subsequently extended. The latest disclosure indicated that Tauron would receive bank guarantees for Rafako to fulfill the contract, contingent on Rafako and the guarantors reaching a prior agreement.
Looking back at January, Tusk’s visit to Rafako and his talks with staff occurred amid broader tensions in the dispute between Tauron and Rafako. He argued that public institutions and state-owned entities should support, not undermine, Polish enterprises, stressing that public finances should back authentic research and industry development in regions like Upper Silesia.
These comments followed a period of dramatic developments in the region for the industrial sector, with Langer recalling the moment as pivotal. In his view, Tusk’s January push for a settlement helped elevate the public discourse and opened a path toward a constructive resolution. Rafako employees expressed gratitude for the support and for the chance to voice appreciation in person.
Tusk noted that Monday’s information was not available when he agreed to visit Ensol on Tuesday, suggesting his presence helped mobilize action and reinforced the belief that even without formal political power, a strong voice and goodwill can spark progress. He praised Ensol’s leadership and workforce for showcasing a modern, ambitious company in Racibórz, which he described as an authentic solar center.
He expressed disappointment that the National Centre for Research and Development did not provide the expected support for ambitious Polish companies, mentioning a controversial funding program and a perception of selective favor. He urged attendees not to overlook the importance of public money flowing to genuine research and to places that can meaningfully influence the evolution of Poland’s industry and regional growth.
Rafako remained central to the broader energy infrastructure discussion, as the company continues to navigate the Jaworzno project and related settlement talks with Tauron. The ongoing negotiations and the public announcements around them underscore the high stakes involved for Poland’s industrial landscape and the role of government and state-backed entities in shaping it. The overarching takeaway is a call for sustained, practical measures to protect and grow Poland’s industrial base while supporting innovation and energy transitions across the country.