There is a chance that after the holidays inflation will fall below 10 percent, and before that we will see prices rise by 20 percent. Finance Minister Magdalena Rzeczkowska was also asked if the government could introduce new social programs in an election year.
Finance Minister Magdalena Rzeczkowska said on the Gość Szkolenia program that inflation could fall below 10 percent in the second half of the year. “I hope I can’t promise, because the experience of recent years shows that forecasts are forecasts and there is nothing definite,” she restrained herself. In her opinion, “if there are no additional crisis situations, 2024 should be calmer.”
But before that, we must be prepared for inflation at the level of 20 percent.
We are glad that prices are stable
Bohdan Rymanovsky also asked about Orlen’s decision to cut wholesale fuel prices at the end of the year. As a result, since January 1, gasoline prices at gas stations have remained the same, although VAT has increased to 23 percent.
“Orlen’s decision doesn’t shock me. It’s nice that the prices are stable. This is influenced by a number of factors (…). The position of the zloty against the dollar has a significant impact, and here we have a stable situation, she concluded.
Magdalena Rzeczkowska was also asked what she would do if PiS President Jarosław Kaczynski decides that in an election year, along with new social programs, “pre-election sausage” is needed. The Minister assured that there were no new transfers.
There will be no valorization 500+
– The ideas of valorization of the Family 500+ program are returning, but there are no such plans. Existing social programs will be preserved. Pensions are an element of social policy. There is money for the 14th pension, at 15. We don’t talk. Any additional costs for which we would have to seek funding should be based on priorities, she replied.
The Minister of Finance was also asked to respond to the words of the Minister of Justice, Zbigniew Ziobro, who called the money from KPO a “German scam”.
- I disagree with this statement. The European Commission as an institution is in a better position when it comes to borrowing in the capital markets. The cost of borrowing by the Commission is better than if we borrowed ourselves. This is 2 percent, and when Poland borrows funds in euros, we have from 3 to 4.2 percent. The price of Poland’s individual action is higher. Minister Ziobro is entitled to his opinion, but the numbers speak for themselves, said Magdalena Rzeczkowska.
Source: Wprost
