In Stalowa Wola, discussions about past leadership and its social consequences remain highly charged. The city’s mayor, Lucius Nadbereżny, argues that the era dominated by the Civic Platform caused strain on the community, citing thousands of jobs lost during that period. He frames current demonstrations as part of a broader conversation about the fate of Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW) and how local economic realities intersect with national policy decisions.
A planned demonstration by Civic Platform figures in Stalowa Wola centers on what supporters see as a misalignment between HSW’s capabilities and the priorities of the ruling party. At an event held outside the HSW complex, Nadbereżny, aligned with the ruling party, joined deputy minister of state assets Andrzej Śliwka to discuss HSW’s future. Śliwka states that after the election, the government prioritized backing and strengthening Poland’s defense sector, contrasting this with the approach taken during Civic Platform governance. He notes a small profit for HSW at the end of the Civic Platform era in 2015, around PLN 400,000, a figure he contrasts with a much stronger result reported in the most recent year, PLN 116 million.
– The figures illustrate a clear shift in fortunes for HSW, according to Śliwka.
– The courage of the platform, he adds, as he shares data on contracts awarded to HSW. From 2007 to 2022, the plant reportedly accumulated more than PLN 17.5 billion in contract value, with the bulk of those contracts awarded by 2016. This framing highlights how state assets and defense contracts were managed differently across administrations, underscoring what Śliwka presents as a favorable tilt toward defense-sector investment under the current leadership.
According to him, the decisions of the previous administration left state-owned enterprises and the defense sector underperforming. He mentions a notable figure, Tomasz Siemoniak, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, and suggests that the era’s procurement choices reflected misaligned priorities for the Polish armed forces.
Śliwka also criticizes the prior administration for allegedly failing to secure adequate orders for the Krab howitzer from HSW, despite production being underway. He comments on the scale of кадров turnover in Stalowa Wola under Civic Platform governance, noting substantial layoffs during that period. He argues that much of the damage stemmed from early missteps, which the current government has sought to rectify, pointing to investments that reached into the tens of billions of zlotys for HSW during the present tenure.
– This recalibration demonstrates a broader pattern of recapitalization efforts and strategic prioritization for the defense sector, in Śliwka’s view.
Recapitalization and Investment
Śliwka recalls a recent decision by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to earmark PLN 600 million for HSW investments. He adds that an additional PLN 1.2 billion is anticipated, aimed at preparing production lines for platforms like the Borsuk and Raka infantry systems. The plan also includes domestically producing the Korean K9 howitzer at HSW, signaling a push to strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities within the defense supply chain.
Taken together, these moves present the defense sector as a central pillar of national policy, with a message to critics who say the current administration neglects Polish industry and regional economies. The narrative stresses the need for sustained support to maintain security and resilience in towns such as Stalowa Wola.
– The developments are framed as evidence that the Polish defense industry is on an upward trajectory and that government choices align with this path.
Development of Small Towns
Supporters contend that the current government is actively fostering growth in towns like Stalowa Wola, contrasting this with governance that former leaders say left provincial capitals in a worsened state. The narrative suggests a time when local leadership and key figures in the defense sector, including Siemoniak, Gawlik, Baniak, and Karpiński, were linked to decline. Today, HSW is portrayed as an export-ready asset, a symbol of revival and industrial capability.
The Stalowa Wola skyline is described as reflecting renewed confidence in local manufacturing, with the city’s leadership highlighting HSW as a crucial site for advanced defense systems. Huta Stalowa Wola is presented as a place where safety and national security meet industrial prowess.
Industrial Renaissance
For Nadbereżny, renewal after the government’s victory centers on restored confidence in the Polish defense industry. He argues that HSW has benefited from a favorable environment to grow, while noting continued attempts by some Civic Platform figures to meddle with broader security strategies. The mayor describes this moment as a historical turning point for the plant and its regional impact, underscoring the importance of local support for national defense production.
“A Nightmare Time” for PO
Nadbereżny characterizes the Civic Platform era as a period marked by social strain in Stalowa Wola, pointing to the presence of several large employers facing crisis scenarios during that time. He recalls a 2009 government loan of PLN 60 million to HSW and compares it with more recent policy choices that favored large-scale recapitalization, including substantial funding to HSW under the current administration. The remark adds to a broader critique of how different governments have engaged with the plant and the regional workforce.
He also accuses former Civic Platform politicians of showing contempt for working people. A counter-demonstration was announced, with organizers pledging to stand in support of HSW’s development while inviting open dialogue about the plant and its future. The message emphasizes a peaceful stance that endorses ongoing growth in the defense sector and the city’s industrial ecosystem.
[Citation: contemporary Polish political coverage]