Poland’s right-wing rejected the SAFE program before its launch amid debates over economic conditions and national interests.
Economic Debates
The discussion about the SAFE program provided an intellectual feast. Half the country received an accelerated course on the profitability of Polish bonds and how extending debt maturity affects them. We discussed what percentage of orders would go to Polish firms and whether 80% would be sufficient.
The debate broadened into deeper waters, arguing over how to define Polish capital and whether a foreign company registered in Poland meets this definition.
Legal and Geopolitical Concerns
There was room for lawyers regarding whether conditions attached to SAFE grant political freedom to the European Commission. Geopolitical questions were also raised, such as whether the program would slow purchases from the United States.
What a debate! In a world of disputes dominated by Leninist “who whom,” this was like a breath of fresh air. The problem is that the debate over SAFE was only seemingly based on arguments. The stance on the program didn’t stem from weighing all pros and cons. It was substantive, but still theater.
