Some level of careful privatization will be necessary, according to a member of the PO, Janusz Lewandowski, speaking at Campus Poland of the Future on a Saturday. Izabela Leszczyna, a Civic Platform MP, stressed that her party has no plan to privatize key fuel and energy firms.
Lewandowski and Leszczyna participated in a panel focused on the Polish economy.
Anyone expecting an economic miracle right after a political transition should understand that it will come with significant political constraints. The government would be a coalition, facing a strong and vocal opposition in the Sejm, and a president whose role could slow rather than accelerate reform. This arrangement could complicate rapid access to European funds.
Lewandowski noted.
He emphasized that the strength of the Polish economy lies in private entrepreneurship.
This stance challenges a model associated with the so-called good change, characterized by centralized control, nationalization, and leadership by a relatively small group of loyal but mediocre individuals, potentially at a sizable cost to asset value.
– according to the PO member.
A degree of responsible privatization will be necessary, Lewandowski asserted.
Leszczyna, for her part, assured that KO does not intend to privatize strategic fuel and energy companies.
She also spoke about the importance of reestablishing the rule of law in Poland. In her view, respecting the separation of powers and upholding human and civil rights are prerequisites for Poland to receive the National Reconstruction Plan funds amounting to PLN 270 billion, and will also help restore credibility on the international stage.
Credibility in business is essential, she added.
She also highlighted the need for a stable and predictable tax system. Taxes should be simple and as low as possible, she noted.
The KO MP pointed out that a major challenge facing modern Polish development is the demographic gap. In the labor market, people to hire are in short supply, she said.
Migration Policy
Without a sensible migration policy, the country cannot endure the pressures of a changing economy. Let us not criticize the Ukrainians who work here, but recognize that they pay taxes and pension contributions, which benefit the economy.
She also drew attention to the need for a practical demographic policy, including the proposal to introduce a “grandmother” program to encourage longer work lives.
We support measures that extend working years; if retirement is delayed and participation in the labor market is maintained, workers would accumulate more income—because pension contributions are reduced for the employee while the employer provides a small uplift. The expectation is that this approach would immediately raise take-home pay while the state continues to fund pension protection so that pension capital grows in line with average salaries.
She stated that KO would not raise the retirement age.
END OF NOTES: the discussion also touched on broader political and economic questions, reflecting ongoing debates about Poland’s future direction.
This synthesis reflects the perspectives shared during the event, where policymakers highlighted privacy in economic choices, the need for rule-of-law stability, and the practicalities of demographic and migration strategy in the Polish context. [citation: wPolityce]