Last Friday marked half a year since Donald Tusk assumed leadership, and there was no press briefing where the Prime Minister would discuss the government coalition’s alleged successes, nor a commemorative post on social media from the PM.
The only Tusk entry on X that day was a message directed at Dariusz Matecki, a sovereign Poland MP who climbed to the roof of a parliamentary building at dawn to photograph the sunrise in the background. Matecki explained that by taking the roof photo on the parliament hotel, he echoed Szymon Hołownia, who a few weeks earlier not only took rooftop photos of the Parliament grounds but also posted a video from that moment. The media noted the homage to Hołownia, praising the habit of exploring every corner of parliamentary property, while Matecki’s departure was soon described as a scandal. Hołownia warned of penalties.
Tusk’s mention on X suggests, on one hand, that this government team is not delivering clear, tangible results. If it were, the leadership would celebrate those accomplishments openly, not just with brief statements but in public spaces near the Prime Minister’s Office. On the other hand, the message appears to rebuke voters who supported the coalition, implying that the promises of the “100 details for 100 days of government” have been forgotten. Support seems to rest with groups under banners like “Together Strong” or “Eight Stars,” while the current aim appears to be settling political scores and pursuing prosecutions against rival PiS politicians, with the justice ministry’s timeline pushing enforcement.
Vendetta as a fig leaf
The notion of accountability and capture is framed as a cover for an economy that is increasingly strained and a public-finance landscape that is visibly fraying. In late April, the Central Statistical Office reported a wave of anticipated layoffs among private companies, noting that 159 firms and about 17,000 workers were affected at the end of March. The trend appears to be continuing month by month, with February data indicating 137 firms and around 16,000 employees, and the projection is for a further uptick in the coming months. The public sector is not immune, with large-scale reductions anticipated at institutions such as Poczta Polska and PKP Cargo, suggesting a broader hardening of the labor market. Analysts warn that nearly one-third of all workers could face redundancies if demand for transport and logistics services remains soft.
Towards the end of May, reports evaluating budget implementation after four months painted a bleaker picture than a year earlier. The Finance Ministry indicated a budget deficit of about PLN 40 billion for January–April, compared with PLN 10 billion in the same period of 2023. The prior year saw a 0.8% GDP dip in the first half, another 0.5% decline in the second, and an annual GDP increase of only 0.2%. For 2024, growth projections were more favorable, with estimates around 3.6%. Yet the first quarter already showed GDP growth near 1.9%, per a fast estimate from the Central Statistical Office. This improved performance in the current year contrasts with the prior year’s contraction, but the overall budget picture remains under pressure.
The discussion has also touched on calls for tighter regulation of policy predecessors, highlighting the adage that in tough times, more games are played. The debate underscores the need to address not only domestic constraints but also the broader European context, including the EU migration pact finalized in May, which has drawn attention at the western border. The evolving policy environment continues to shape the public conversation about economic resilience and governance.
Source: wPolityce