Social peace important for Poland's growth - president
Poland today is a more supportive country which cares for the weak and strives to provide equal chances for all, President Andrzej Duda said in his New Year address to Poles.
Recounting the reforms carried through by the Polish government over the past year, Duda said they brought tangible benefits to Polish families. Here he especially mentioned the 500 Plus child aid scheme, a minimum wage hike, the introduction of cost-free medication for the elderly and a reduction of the retirement age. Duda stressed that the changes managed to restore a sense of dignity to many Poles and strengthen their faith in the "possibility of just government".
"Poland today is a more supportive country which cares for those who are weaker and strives to provide equal chances for all. The 500 Plus programme, the minimum pay hike, cost-free medicines for seniors and the retirement age cut are all changes which have restored a sense of dignity to many Poles, strengthening their faith in the possibility of just government", the president said.
Speaking about Poland's security situation Duda observed that Poland was now a safer country, among others owing to the NATO Warsaw summit's decisions to station allied forces in Poland. He added that Poland also had to strengthen its own army, and reminded that 2017 would see the thorough modernisation of the Polish forces.
Duda observed, however, that security did not depend solely on military potential but also on political alliances, and in this context recalled that Poland was among the biggest and most important EU members which, despite differences of opinion regarding the EU's future among Poles, had an interest in a "stable, united and solidary Europe".
"Our safety does not base only on military, but also on political alliances. Poland is one of the largest and most important European Union countries, and Polish support for the common European project is among the highest on the continent. And it is primarily we who should want to see the EU cope successfully with all the crises it is beset with today, and which it will, unfortunately, probably have to battle also in 2017. Regardless of differences in opinion as to the EU's future (...), one thing lies beyond any doubt: Poland's interest lies in a stable, united and solidary Europe", Duda said.
Duda also stressed the importance of economic power as a security mainstay, and in this connection advocated more state support for domestic enterprise and openness to foreign investment. He also noted that social peace was important for the country's growth and appealed to Poles to replace political emotions with "civilised dialogue".
"Let us work together for Poland in respect of democratic rules", Duda appealed, assuring that as president he was ready to "do everything to calm down unnecessary conflicts".
Wishing Poles all the best in the coming year, Duda voiced hope that the new year brings them "family warmth, professional success, encouragement and optimism". (PAP)
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