2019-11-19 17:29 update: 2019-11-21, 14:34
Photo PAP/Paweł Supernak
Addressing the Sejm (lower house) on Tuesday, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said in his policy speech that the goal of his government was to build a Poland which would be the best place to live in Europe.
"Our chief goal is to build a Poland which will be the best place to live in Europe. A Poland marked by everyday normalcy, prosperity and peace in the streets and on its borders. This is a dream of millions of Poles. If we continue to consistently modernise our country, secure just access to the fruits of development, seek agreement above divisions - at least in such matters as security, energy strategy, old-age pension system and demography - then there is the best time for Poland ahead of us," he stressed.
PM Morawiecki underlined that Poland is a common good of all citizens while the programme of Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party is based on such values as freedom, justice, democracy, respect of ownership rights and social dialogue. "Our programme is based on culture, building cultural identity, on the family and marriage, which is especially protected, and on the values included in the constitution," he said.
Morawiecki appealed for a change to the Constitution in order to protect funds transferred to Employee Capital Plans (PPK) and Individual Pension Accounts (IKE), declared that a government commissioner for renewable energy resources will be established and that his government will continue to reform the justice system.
Stressing that Poland should be looked at as "the sum of our common interests and ambitions," he said that a lot had been achieved over the last thirty years and expressed his thanks to all the post-communist governments and their prime ministers for their work and effort.
Morawiecki underlined that his government was family-oriented and appreciated the work of women. In this context, he declared that women and men should receive equal pay for the same work. He also said that his government will continue to pay out an extra 13th monthly pension and a 14th pension as of 2021.
The PM said his government wanted the country's GDP growth level to be at least 2-3 percentage points above the growth in the euro zone during the next four years.
PM Morawiecki stressed that in recent years Poland has smashed a glass ceiling hampering its development, which has led to record growth in the incomes of Poles.
"Today, we have caught the wind of history in our sails," said the PM noting that Poles' incomes, in comparison to highly developed economies, was at its highest level since the start of the transformation process in Poland.
Morawiecki also noted that Poland needs a new demographic policy and a strategy for a great return of Poles to their homeland. "In 20 years' time we may become a much larger nation," emphasized the PM.
The prime minister promised that Poland will continue to be a friendly country to foreign investors and at the same time support international expansion of Polish companies.
The PM stressed that the independence of the courts is very important, but that does not mean a lack of responsibility.
"The separation of powers, but also checks and balances. A democratically elected parliament has an impact on the staffing of courts in every country, in the United States, in France and in Spain," the PM noted.
Referring to international politics, PM Morawiecki said that his government had a plan for the EU, which is to be based on solidarity and subsidiarity. "We want to reduce centralisation and bureaucracy in Brussels. We want to restore solidarity and subsidiarity," he said.
He underlined the importance of fair competition and just taxes and explained that the richest global companies should pay taxes "where they make profits." He also stressed the need for treaty-based freedom of services and an ambitious EU budget.
Referring to the significance of western partnership, the Polish PM emphasised that "Poland will defend the alliance of Europe and the US."
"Just as the EU is the guarantee of the continental order, NATO takes care of the global order. Poland is and must continue to be an integral part of the two organisms," he declared.
The PM also said that NATO is the most powerful military alliance in the history of the world. "The voices of some leaders questioning Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, or the failure to fulfil alliance obligations, weaken our security, threaten the EU and NATO. We will counteract this," declared Morawiecki.
PM Morawiecki also said that Europe needs a return to its roots, founding ideas and Christian values.
"We no longer live in the times of a safe Western domination. In the Far East, the Middle East, and for us in the immediate East, there are international players that are willing to take advantage of Europe's weaknesses, that is why we want an ambitious EU that is open to accepting new members, open to the Western Balkans," said Morawiecki.
He noted that if the EU does not present a realistic offer to neighbouring countries, one will be presented by others, namely China and Russia.
"We are taking responsibility for Poland, but we are also ready to take joint responsibility for our region, Central Europe and the European Union," declared the PM.
President Andrzej Duda appointed Poland's new government under to-date PM Mateusz Morawiecki on November 15. (PAP)
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