Polish politician Przemysław Czarnek alleges Prime Minister Donald Tusk copied his proposal to lower fuel taxes, costing Polish drivers billions in delayed relief.
Tusk Announces Fuel Tax Cuts
On March 26th, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced plans to reduce VAT on fuel from 23% to 8% and lower fuel excise duties to the minimum required by EU regulations – a reduction of 29 groszy on gasoline and 28 groszy on diesel.
Tusk stated the measures would include price controls at stations and a tax on excess profits of fuel companies, ensuring no one profits from the crisis at the expense of citizens.
Czarnek Claims Tusk “Copied” His Proposal
Przemysław Czarnek asserted that Tusk took almost three weeks to implement a fuel price reduction plan he had proposed on March 9th, resulting in approximately 2 billion złoty in losses for Polish drivers due to the delay.
Czarnek questioned who would compensate Polish citizens for these losses, positioning himself as a candidate for Prime Minister.
PiS Politicians Support Czarnek’s Accusation
Members of the Law and Justice (PiS) party quickly voiced their support for Czarnek on social media, criticizing Tusk’s management of the Polish state.
Sebastian Kaleta and Tobiasz Bocheński accused Tusk’s government of exploiting citizens and being incompetent, while Mariusz Błaszczak congratulated Czarnek and highlighted the eventual implementation of his proposed law.
Government Plan Details
The government’s initiative includes setting a maximum retail price for fuel during the period of reduced tax rates.
Prime Minister Tusk announced that Energy Minister Miłosz Motyka would daily determine maximum fuel prices, and a tax on excess profits of fuel companies would be implemented to counter rising costs.
Global Factors and Fuel Prices
The blockage of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran in response to Israeli-American strikes caused a surge in global oil prices, reaching nearly $100 per barrel on March 28th.
Czarnek’s Original Proposal
On March 9th, Czarnek proposed a temporary reduction in VAT on fuel from 23% to 8% and a decrease in excise duty by approximately 9-10%.
He argued that the state should not exploit citizens and compared current fuel prices to those during the PiS government under Daniel Obajtek, noting that despite a lower dollar exchange rate, prices remain comparable to when oil cost $120 a barrel.
