Poland’s Sejm Speaker Włodzimierz Czarzasty rejected President Andrzej Duda’s alternative to the EU’s SAFE program, citing a lack of funding sources on March 19th.
Presidential Project Returned Due to Funding Concerns
Sejm Speaker Włodzimierz Czarzasty announced his decision following a press conference, refusing to assign a legislative number to President Duda’s bill concerning the “Polish SAFE zero percent” initiative. Czarzasty stated the President failed to identify adequate funding for the proposal.
The project had previously been sent to the Legislative Bureau and the Bureau for Expert Analysis and Regulatory Impact Assessment. Czarzasty reported the results of the conducted analyses, noting “very serious doubts” regarding the bill’s constitutionality.
No Legislative Freeze, Speaker Asserts
Czarzasty refuted claims that he was blocking or freezing presidential legislative initiatives, stating that the President has submitted 17 projects, with one passed by the Sejm, one rejected, seven in committee review, two awaiting first reading, four returned for supplementation, one in public consultation, and one sent for expert opinion.
Concerns Over Populist Legislation and Financial Guarantees
Czarzasty emphasized he would not allow the Sejm to proceed with “populist” legislation lacking financial security. He specifically cited a potential annual cost of 100 billion złoty, rejecting proposals relying on vague promises of future government funding.
“Polish SAFE Zero Percent” Explained
President Duda vetoed the government’s bill regarding the EU’s SAFE program, arguing it represents a substantial foreign loan in a foreign currency, burdening future generations. He proposed the “Polish SAFE zero percent” as an alternative, supported by the National Bank of Poland.
The SAFE program (Security Action for Europe) aims to provide 150 billion euros to 19 EU member states for defense investments, with Poland slated to receive nearly 44 billion euros in the form of loans with a 3% interest rate, repayable until 2070.
