Officials in Poland have signaled that starting July 1, the administration led by Donald Tusk will end the energy shield and move to raise wages for Polish workers. Mariusz Błaszczak, a former head of the Ministry of National Defense, argued on Telewizja wPolsce that this shift would hit households first and then businesses hard. He warned that higher energy costs would ripple through many sectors, including small enterprises like bakeries that rely on electricity to operate.
In response to rising costs, the Law and Justice party (PiS) introduced a draft amendment aimed at strengthening protections for electricity, gas, and heat consumers. The plan envisions expanding the safety net during the first half of 2024. A Legislative Initiative Committee titled Stop price increases from July was formed in support of the proposal, and on June 7 the bill was submitted to the Sejm as a citizen’s initiative.
During a press conference, Hołownia commented on why the Sejm did not take up the project in the current session, saying that the relevant analyses are still ongoing.
Błaszczak reiterated that the energy shield has been a key promise from the governing coalition since its inception, intended to shield households from inflation. He noted that the inflationary pressures Poland faced were driven by global factors, including the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, rather than domestic policy alone.
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Poland Faces Wage Increases and Energy Support
According to sources close to the coalition, from July 1 the government will phase out the energy shield while implementing wage increases for Poles. Błaszczak described this as a twofold decision affecting families first and then the broader business landscape, highlighting the impact on small industrial players who depend on affordable energy to keep prices stable.
Hołownia countered the assertion that the Stop Price Increases project was submitted late. He explained that a near-identical parliamentary proposal had already been introduced in the spring and that the coalition’s December 13 decision did not advance the measure. Supporters report that more than 140,000 signatures were collected in favor of the citizen initiative, and that the project was presented as a grassroots effort rather than a party bill.
Błaszczak warned about commitments made by coalition politicians on December 13, suggesting caution when evaluating promises from the coalition. He recalled that during the autumn campaign, Donald Tusk pledged that fuel at gas stations would drop to a price of 5.19 PLN per liter, adding skepticism about the timing and extent of any reductions.
In closing remarks, the speakers invited viewers to remain attentive to political developments in Poland as the July transition unfolds.
READ MORE:
— Błaszczak urges the President of the Sejm to adopt the July Stop Wage Increases initiative, citing over 140,000 signatures gathered.
— Daniel Obajtek visited Orlen, with comments that fuel remains costly and that the promised price reductions at 5.19 PLN have yet to materialize.
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Source: wPolityce