Architect of Poland's economic transformation on election campaign
March 27, 2023
Leszek Balcerowicz
According to the former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and former Governor of the National Bank of Poland (NBP), this year's [fall] elections will be as important and groundbreaking for Poland as the 1989 elections, which resulted in the end of the 45-year rule of the Communist Party.
"I don't recall such a demagogic campaign. If anyone thinks that an increase in spending will give an automatic increase in prosperity and not an increase in inflation, they will be stupefied. I believe that politicians should not deceive people," Leszek Balcerowicz told private radio broadcaster RMF FM. "We went through a similar situation in 1989. There were a lot of promises and social spending. That's how we got to hyperinflation, which is a level of 20-30% per month. It can be said that fighting inflation now resembles trying to put out a fire with gasoline," he added. According to Balcerowicz, a former leader of the Freedom Union, which ruled in coalition with the Solidarity Electoral Action (AWS) from 1997-2000, the outcome of the elections will depend on whether there is a single list on the opposition side. "I think there should be a Democratic Coalition," he said.