Government spokesperson Piotr Szłapka dismisses presidential project as a “zero-zloty program” with no funds, amid veto controversy.
Government Rejects Presidential SAFE Project
Government spokesperson Piotr Szłapka criticized the presidential bill on the Polish Defense Investment Fund as a “zero-zloty program.” He called it a “strange law creating new bureaucracy and a usurpation of power by the president,” adding that no funds are proposed in the legislation.
Szłapka, cited by PAP, stated: “There was a vague suggestion from Adam Glapiński about potential profits. In his letter to the prime minister, Glapiński wrote that the NBP’s accumulated loss over recent years amounts to 100 billion zł, meaning no profit is planned for next year.”
NBP Profits Contingency
Szłapka declared that if the NBP generates a profit, the government will utilize it. He explained that existing laws govern such cases: 5% remains with the NBP as a reserve, and 95% is transferred to the budget, with guarantees the funds will be used for Polish security and health.
Asked if the government will engage with the president’s proposal, Szłapka replied: “I don’t think there’s a need, because this law is about nothing—zero zlotys.”
SAFE Program Details
The spokesperson’s remarks follow President Karol Nawrocki’s veto of the law implementing the SAFE rearmament plan, a key pillar of the EU’s “European Defense Readiness 2030” strategy. SAFE focuses on arms purchases within the EU, with Poland allocated 43.7 billion euros—29% of the total pool.
The government refutes opposition claims that the program favors Germany and France, noting 80% of orders will come from Poland’s defense sector, split equally between state and private entities.
Government’s Stand on Funds
After the president’s veto announcement, the government authorized the defense and finance ministers to sign a loan agreement with SAFE. Under the resolution, Polish Armed Forces Fund will borrow via BGK.
The president vetoed the bill, arguing it undermines Poland’s sovereignty and economic security. He and NBP President Glapiński presented an alternative: the “Polish SAFE 0%,” backed by a bill proposing a defense fund financed by NBP profits.