Polish deputy defense minister challenges president and central bank chief about past loans while urging approval of new EU defense funding.
Deputy Minister Challenges President on SAFE Program
On Wednesday, March 4, Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk was asked on TVN24 about an alternative to the SAFE program proposed by President Karol Nawrocki and NBP head Adam Glapiński. The deputy minister replied that he does not treat this idea as an alternative. He appealed to the president to sign the law implementing the EU program, which is currently on his desk.
“Mr. President, please sign this SAFE law so that we can use these 200 billion zł. I cannot imagine a veto in this matter,” said Tomczyk. “If the president wants to make such a decision, let him do it like a man and take responsibility.”
Tomczyk Questions Glapiński About Past Loans
Tomczyk presented several doubts regarding Nawrocki and Glapiński’s proposal. “Firstly, in the last year, the NBP brought over 20 billion in losses, similarly to the previous year. Secondly, I wonder where President Glapiński was with the NBP when Mariusz Błaszczak was borrowing money in South Korea at 6%, and at 7% in the US,” he noted.
During the PiS government, Poland took large loans in South Korea to finance armament purchases amounting to tens of billions of złoty, which remained largely a “bank secret.” However, PiS politicians explain this by saying there were different circumstances and defense needs at the time.
Government Open to Additional Defense Funding
Tomczyk stated that if the president presents additional sources of financing for the army, the government would be happy to use them. “The more we have to spend on modernization and the Polish army, the better,” he said, adding that he would gladly inform soldiers about additional funds.
The head of the MOD, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, also commented: “The SAFE program provides the fastest and most concrete funds for the modernization of the Polish army. If further financing instruments appear, the Polish Army will only gain from this.”
SAFE Program Details and Projects
The law implementing the SAFE mechanism – an EU program for quick loans for member states’ investments in defense – was passed by parliament last week and is currently awaiting the president’s decision. Poland can receive up to 43.7 billion euro for military equipment purchases.
In its application, the Polish MOD included 139 projects, including Piorun anti-aircraft launchers, Borsuk infantry fighting vehicles, and Krab howitzers. Plans also include the purchase of air tankers produced by Airbus. Some projects will be implemented in cooperation with other European partners and Ukraine.
