Donald Tusk, responding to questions from President Karol Nawrocki, did not mention the record budget deficit, which after July reached 150 billion złoty. Instead, he stated that he was satisfied with public finances because… “there is no longer that PiS-level high cost of living.” Later he also informed that the government had found a way to bypass the presidential veto and would implement changes concerning wind turbines through regulations.
At the beginning of his speech, the Prime Minister, “so that there are no illusions later,” emphasized that the Cabinet Council (“Rada Gabinetowa”) “is a place where the president can be informed about the actions of the government, especially in those areas where he has limited ability to assess the situation or lacks knowledge.” He assured that the government would be at the president’s disposal for informational purposes, while also stressing that he would strictly observe constitutional frameworks. “The Cabinet Council is not a substitute for the government or parliament,” he underlined, adding that “with the best intentions, they will cooperate with the president wherever the constitution so determines.”
Not a word about public debt
According to Tusk, some of the points and questions prepared for the meeting contained inaccuracies resulting from lack of information, “or from the political intentions of the people involved” in drafting them. Where the president raised alarm about the state of the economy, Tusk reassured.
“I would like to reassure in literally three sentences. Public finances – the general state of the public finances, the budget, the economy. We have reason to be satisfied that our actions in public finances are producing results in those aspects felt by the people,” the Prime Minister said.
He did not mention the record budget deficit for the next half year amounting to 150 billion złoty, but he did add that he was glad “there is no longer that PiS-level high cost of living.” And that was the tone of the Prime Minister’s further remarks. He did not speak of the delay in the construction of CPK (Central Communication Port), but instead boasted of increased spending on road and airport investments under the supervision of the Minister of Infrastructure. “I would like to talk about CPK the way Minister Horała does. We don’t talk – we act,” Tusk jabbed at Horała.
“The investment has started and it will be completed faster than we currently assume,” he unexpectedly declared, announcing that soon the president would see the results of this work.
On Mercosur they need the president’s help
“As for Mercosur, at this moment France is the only partner ready to negotiate the arrangements,” Tusk admitted, referring to the European Union’s agricultural agreement with South American countries. “Is that sufficient? Of course not,” he added, expressing hope that President Nawrocki’s diplomatic skills and diligence might help here.
“We are at the border and guarding the border not to exceed the debt, the deficit. At the same time, we have record inflation, record unemployment,” Tusk said in summary.
With a smile, he added that the government would bypass the presidential veto regarding the wind turbine law and introduce its provisions through regulations.