Mateusz Morawiecki, Poland’s Prime Minister, has strongly criticized the opposition’s proposed amendments to the mortgage moratorium, asserting that these changes would significantly restrict eligibility for borrower support.
The mortgage moratorium, implemented by the Polish government, grants borrowers the ability to defer four monthly payments in both 2022 and 2023, aiming to assist individuals dealing with interest rates that surged to 6.75 percent this year.
In a recent development, The Third Way, an opposition coalition, submitted a proposed amendment to the mortgage moratorium law in November. This draft recommends narrowing the criteria for individuals entitled to benefit from the suspension of mortgage repayments. Under this proposal, borrowers would only qualify if their monthly mortgage expenditure exceeds 40 percent of the average income.
In a video broadcasted on the X platform, Morawiecki criticized the opposition’s stance, stating, “‘Nothing that has been given will be taken away’—that was the opposition’s campaign slogan. However, instead of extending the mortgage moratorium to a million people, they propose it for only 50-60,000 individuals, with unclear criteria.”
Furthermore, Morawiecki emphasized that a Polish politician’s duty is to serve the nation and its citizens, not to prioritize the interests of large corporations.
“Ultimately, the banks, already reporting record profits, will benefit from the opposition’s bill, providing them an unwarranted bonus,” Morawiecki asserted. “Meanwhile, Polish families, who have received substantial protection from my government amidst global inflation, stand to lose out.”
Morawiecki’s critique underscores the divergence in perspectives between the government and the opposition regarding the scope and inclusivity of mortgage support, raising significant concerns about the potential impact on affected borrowers and financial institutions alike.