Law and Justice (PiS) politicians are warning that instead of addressing Poland’s demographic crisis, the government led by Donald Tusk is shutting down kindergartens. An example cited is the closure of seven facilities in Warsaw, pointed out at a press conference in the Sejm by MP Sebastian Kaleta. According to opposition MPs, this situation fits a broader pattern: first maternity wards are being closed, and now kindergartens. “Is this supposed to be a pro-family policy?” Kaleta asked in the Sejm.
At the press conference, MP Sebastian Kaleta emphasized that these decisions—both at the national and local levels—reflect a very negative trend in which the government fails to seek solutions to increase the number of young Poles. The issue of kindergarten closures in Warsaw and other major cities will be addressed at the next sitting of the Sejm by the standing subcommittee on family affairs.
MP Sebastian Kaleta also returned to the issue during a plenary session of the Sejm.
“The governing coalition is closing maternity wards in Poland, forcing women to give birth in emergency rooms. Just a moment ago there was a draft law to allow people to obtain a divorce at a civil registry office window, and in Warsaw your colleague Rafał Trzaskowski is shutting down seven kindergartens. Is this supposed to be a pro-family policy?” Kaleta asked from the parliamentary rostrum.
“We expect Mr. Trzaskowski to provide information on why he is closing kindergartens,” the PiS politician added, inviting participants to the work of the subcommittee.
Interestingly, after the PiS MP, the Minister of Education Barbara Nowacka took the floor, acknowledging that “demographics are very difficult and immediate action is needed.” She later spoke, among other things, about efforts to save small schools.