Ryszard Petru has authored a book titled “The economy will win.” It promotes itself as a practical handbook for the Polish economy. The reviewer has not yet read it, but expects it to spark debate. Petru, founder and former leader of Nowoczesna, remains a distinctive voice who provokes public discussion in a way that is hard to ignore.
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But does Petru truly understand the economy? Is he even a credible interlocutor in this field? These questions carry weight even before engaging with his book.
A few days ago, Petru proposed privatizing what remains under state control:
The most straightforward and potentially fruitful source of extra revenue for the economy would be privatizing pseudo‑strategic assets: Orlen, PKO Bank Polski, Pekao, SA, and selected power companies. Proceeds from privatization could reduce debt levels, but could not be used to fund current expenditures. The estimate places potential one‑time gains around PLN 100 billion.
What does 100 billion mean in this context? It is roughly the same magnitude as Poland’s annual gain from easing the tax system under the current administration. If realized, such a sum would effectively reduce the nation’s ownership of critical assets that enable political and economic autonomy, allowing less room for independent policy moves in the future.
But the discussion does not end there. In a subsequent response to critics, Petru remarked:
There are foolish claims that privatization means ownership by Putin. It should be clarified that purchase by Putin is not privatization. There is no cure for ignorance that would solve this issue overnight.
This comment is striking because the real concern is not the fear of selling to Russia alone. The worry extends to selling to Western firms first, followed by any cyclical shock or turbulence that might push strategic assets into foreign hands, potentially affecting national sovereignty.
The broader economic approach associated with Polish liberal circles is challenged here. Critics argue it overlooks the peripheral position of the Polish economy relative to global financial hubs, fails to consider the burden of geography, and ignores successful models from other economies that have risen to prominence, such as South Korea. The critique portrays the position as a patchwork of idealistic claims, often voiced to win applause within a like‑minded circle. Petru is presented as embodying this line of thought in its most unvarnished form, leading to a broader difficulty in finding common ground with his supporters and critics alike.
Perhaps the hesitation stems from engagement with theories that feel dated rather than grounded in current economic realities. The concern grows when proposals appear to lack practical backing, raising questions about what would actually happen if such ideas were pursued at scale.
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