Polish right‑wing MPs dispute the origins and responsibility of a new beverage deposit system, with Sławomir Mentzen blaming former Prime Minister Tusk and PiS demanding an apology.
Right‑Wing Clash Over Deposit System
After PiS MP Sebastian Kaleta criticized the new deposit scheme as a “Tusk” initiative, Sławomir Mentzen countered that the system was the creation of former Prime Minister Tusk’s government. Kaleta highlighted that the policy had been endorsed by almost all PiS members, with only the Confederation opposing it. Mentzen replied that PiS officials had signed the original bill and that the deposit system should not be blamed on him.
PiS spokesperson Rafał Bochenek accused Mentzen of either lying or holding a personal grudge, emphasizing that the bill and all its fees were drafted by Tusk’s administration. Bochenek also pointed out that PiS had not voted against the amendment that introduced the deposit system in the November parliamentary session.
PiS MP then asked whether Mentzen had “partnered with Tusk to shift the blame onto PiS,” implying that Mentzen’s claims were pre‑planned.
Who Introduced the Scheme?
The Confederation criticizes PiS MPs for presenting the deposit law as a government initiative, claiming it was introduced during their own tenure. PiS argues that the legislation was enacted during the current coalition’s term, in November of the previous year, and that most MPs were abstaining at that time.
Officials stress that PiS did not vote against the amendment and that the final version of the law is even stricter than the original proposals.
Rzepecki Calls for an Apology
Łukasz Rzepecki, a former adviser to former president Andrzej Duda who recently joined Mentzen’s faction, responded to Bochenek’s comments. He denounced Bochenek for repeatedly attacking Mentzen despite earlier support for the law, and urged him to apologize for “the clear gloom” he has purportedly suffered.
Implementation of the New Deposit Rules
Starting Wednesday, Poland began enforcing a deposit system in which consumers can recover a pre‑added fee by returning aluminum bottles or plastic bottles with special labels. Retailers must mark these containers appropriately and offer a refund through designated machines.
