The Polish People’s Party (PSL) leadership convened Saturday to discuss its revised “SAFE Zero Percent” bill, aiming to secure funding for defense and security through National Bank of Poland profits.
PSL National Council Meeting Focuses on Election Campaign and Security
The PSL’s National Council, the party’s highest authority between congresses, met Saturday morning to discuss the election campaign, current political situation, and a planned program congress in the fall.
During the publicly accessible portion of the meeting, Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that the PSL is effective and contributes to a government focused on security, investment, and development. He emphasized the party’s role in the Council of Ministers and Parliament.
Focus on Fuel Prices and Energy Minister’s Actions
Kosiniak-Kamysz highlighted the work of Energy Minister Miłosz Motyka in securing parliamentary approval for legislation lowering fuel prices, stating the party is effectively addressing important issues.
PSL’s “SAFE” Project: A Response to Presidential Proposal
The National Council is the PSL’s highest authority between Congresses, responsible for setting political direction and selecting members of the Executive Committee. It meets quarterly, convened by the current chairman, Deputy Speaker of the Sejm Piotr Zgorzelski.
Kosiniak-Kamysz addressed the PSL’s proposed legislation concerning the “SAFE” program, a revised version of the presidential “SAFE 0 percent” project. The proposal aims to establish a new Polish Defense Investment Fund financed primarily by NBP profits.
He argued that the program could have been a nationwide success, with secured EU funding, but criticized opposition and the President for potentially hindering Poland’s interests. He announced the PSL would take initiative.
Funding for Security Services Beyond the Military
Kosiniak-Kamysz explained that the “Safe Poland” project allocates NBP profits to broader security needs, including the police and border guard, which he claimed were weakened by the President’s veto. He stated the PSL aims to strengthen these forces.
He asserted that the PSL’s proposal addresses the flaws of the previous version and extends an invitation to all parliamentary groups to collaborate on immediate allocation of funds, expecting the bill to be considered after the holidays. He emphasized the PSL will not back down.
Political Considerations and Opposition Strategies
Kosiniak-Kamysz noted a political reason to encourage work on the project, warning that if the PSL doesn’t utilize these NBP funds, the opposition may make them a central campaign promise.
He stressed the importance of avoiding a situation where anyone could question the coalition’s integrity or accuse them of deliberately not utilizing available funds.
NBP Responsibility and Avoiding Political Disputes
Kosiniak-Kamysz reiterated that the National Bank of Poland is responsible for the transfer and integrity of the process, not Parliament or political parties. He urged against questioning the feasibility of the plan and called for its implementation for Poland’s security and to prevent electoral manipulation.
Call for Immediate Action and Legislative Support
Following the meeting, Kosiniak-Kamysz stated there is no room for politics, especially regarding security, and warned against attempts to capitalize on the situation. He called for immediate work on the PSL’s bill.
He expressed confidence in the willingness of Marshal Czarzasty to support the legislation and guaranteed a transparent legislative process, emphasizing the bill is the only way to verify the funds available at the NBP.
