“If the president issues a veto, we will be ready with a draft resolution regarding SAFE,” Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced after a meeting at the Presidential Palace. “A Council of Ministers resolution concerning the loan? How would that work? After all, this can only be done by law. That follows directly from the constitution,” commented Michał Wójcik, former deputy minister of justice, speaking live on Telewizja Republika. Tusk also addressed the proposed alternative to the EU’s SAFE program — the Polish “Safe 0%.”
On Tuesday, a meeting took place at the Presidential Palace involving President Karol Nawrocki, National Bank of Poland President Adam Glapiński, Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, and Minister of Finance and Economy Andrzej Domański. The discussion concerned the president’s decision regarding the law implementing the EU SAFE program, as well as the proposal for the “Polish Safe 0%.” The draft law establishing the Polish Defence Investment Fund, implementing the “Polish Safe 0%,” was submitted to the Sejm on Tuesday.
At a press conference following the meeting, the prime minister stated that he expects an immediate decision from the president regarding the SAFE legislation.
“I had hoped that this meeting would lead to a clear conclusion, a declaration, a decision — in line with what we discussed with Polish generals before the meeting with the president. We expect an immediate decision regarding the SAFE program, that is the 180 billion zlotys for the Polish defense industry and for Poland’s defense,” Tusk said.
However, he admitted that the government is “ready” for a possible veto. What did he mean?
“If there is a veto, then on the same day we will be able to implement Plan B — a resolution of the Council of Ministers — but with losses, for example for the Border Guard. That is the problem. If there is a veto, we will find money for the military, but because of the veto there will be no money for protecting the eastern border, for supporting the Border Guard, the police in their tasks related to citizens’ security, or for cybersecurity,” Tusk explained.
Tusk on the Polish “Safe 0%”
He also assessed that the proposal from the head of the National Bank of Poland is, “in the simplest terms, SAFE zero zlotys.”
“At the moment we have no money — we have words and we have a draft law. In this draft law there is no money; there is a new body, a council, new bureaucracy, dozens of unnecessary provisions,” the prime minister said.
“As you know, this law has already been published online, it has reached the Speaker of the Sejm, and during the meeting it was presented by Minister Zbigniew Bogucki. We reviewed the content of this law. There are no guarantees of funding in it. The law only contains provisions establishing new structures — rather bureaucratic ideas,” he argued.
He added that if the National Bank of Poland records profits, he proposes transferring them directly to the state budget so that they can be allocated to national security.
“I am ready to sit down with the parliamentary majority and with the Speaker of the Sejm to work on any law — even tomorrow — if it guarantees financing for the Polish defense industry and the Polish military,” the prime minister said.
He added that he will not agree “to any manipulation, strange and highly suspicious maneuvers, or political games around these matters.” He emphasized that he hopes the president will quickly sign the law implementing the SAFE program.
“I warned the president that if there is no signature, we will look for ways without a law so that at least part of this money reaches the Polish army — but with losses and with certain costs,” the prime minister stressed.