Would you give Minister Rostowski a raspberry?

Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski is one of the nominees for this year’s Polish Economic Raspberry Awards for the worst economic performance of the last 12 months.

The awards, established by the business-oriented daily Puls Biznesu, are granted to “those whose performance has had negative impact on the Polish economy.”

Nominees, chosen by the newspaper’s staff and readers, will compete in four categories.

Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski tops nominations in the “politician/state official” category for increasing VAT and for recent pension payment changes.

Labour Minister Jolanta Fedak and Infrastructure Minister Cezary Grabarczyk have also been nominated for their part in changes to the pension scheme  - part of an attempt by the government to cut public spending - and for chaos on Polish railways and roads after the botched introduction of new nationwide timetables.

Orbis Travel has been nominated in the “entrepreneur/employer” category for its unexpected bankruptcy last year, Polish Railways PKP for lack of control over its subordinate companies and paint producers and DIY retailers for price fixing.

Polish political parties have also been nominated in the “institution” category: the ruling Civic Platform and its coalition partner, the Polish Peasant’s Party could get an award for failing to fulfill electoral promises and the opposition Law and Justice party and the Democratic Left Alliance for ignoring economic issues.

Internet users can cast their votes on the Puls Biznesu web site until the end of February. (mg/pg)