Civic Platform’s candidate for president Bronislaw Komorowski (right) has promised to cut rail and bus ticket prices for students during the first 500 days of his presidency.

Komorowski’s initiative to introduce 50 percent discounts on tickets for school and university students has followed a students’ request for lower fares.

In March 2009, students forwarded a draft citizens bill introducing lower fares, signed by 150,000 and supported by 20 youth organizations, to the Speaker of the Sejm Bronislaw Komorowski. The so-called citizen’s initiative allows citizens of Poland to propose constitutional amendments if their petition is signed by at least 100,000 registered voters.]

“It’s already more than 500 days since we submitted the draft. It’s probably stored in a legislative “fridge”,” said Marcin Mastalarek from a student committee, showing a world-weariness beyond his age. As a sign of protest against delays in introducing lower fares, students placed a fridge in front of the Parliament’s building and took out their draft from it.

“We’re surprised that three days before the second round of the presidential election Bronislaw Komorowski has suddenly recalled the draft,” said Mastalarek.

Komorowski’s rival in the ballot on Sunday, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, also promised 49-percent discount for students during his presidential campaign. (mg)

Source: PAP