Tygodnik Powszechny says that the global financial situation has been deteriorating so fast that no country can hope to be immune to it.
Weeklies reviewed by Krystyna Kolosowska.
The Polish government should, therefore, prepare an emergency plan for the economy. It cannot be limited to economizing alone. It must also provide for a well-designed program of help to people and firms, which will be affected by the economic slowdown. In order to implement such an emergency plan fast and without causing public protest, the government should consult it with its social partners. There has been talk for years about the need to conclude a social pact. Now it may prove not only a welcome thing but something truly imperative, says Tygodnik Powszechny.
Newsweek writes on a more optimistic note that the past five years have radically changed the Polish economy. After EU entry the Polish economy has made a big step forward. It became vibrant thanks to billions of euro and dollars from EU funds as well as direct foreign investment in industry and services. Poland’s economic growth indicators, driven by rising consumption and exports, are among the highest in Europe. The condition of public finances improved markedly while membership in the Union strengthened Poland’s financial credibility and trust in its currency. Therefore, it is unlikely that the zloty will weaken as much as it did in 2003, when the dollar cost 4 zlotys, Newsweek predicts.
In Wprost, former Hungarian prime minister and a leading figure in Hungarian transformations, Victor Orban says he envies Poland. Poland is in a wholly different place than Hungary. Believe me, you have achieved a lot, Orban tells the weekly. You have a more stable economy and more developed political scene. The role of the Catholic Church cannot be overestimated. You have a stronger national identity and can defend your interests better. I appreciate your attitude towards Russia and the fact that you can convince Europe that you are right – says the former Hungarian prime minister in Wprost.
On October 25 the last armed Polish soldier leaves Iraq. On the spot Poland leaves only 20 military instructors, who will operate within NATO forces. The military are unanimous, says Polityka. The war in Iraq showed how weak the Polish army was, but without this realization its reconstruction would not have begun. In political terms, Poland benefited a lot from its involvement in Iraq. First of all, its relations with America became more mature. The naive servility was replaced by friendly realism, the best example of which were Poland’s tough negotiations on the deployment of the US anti-missile shield on Polish territory. Also important is the fact this country has not earned the label of an oppressor, given to the Americans and the British. But dreams of economic profits in Iraq have been shattered. Polish exports to Iraq were worth 70 million dollars last year. Ironically, the investment boom begins in Iraq right now, when Polish businessmen have given up.
Back to Newsweek, which says that American Poles, who constitute the eighth biggest ethnic community in the United States, are loosing importance as a distinct group. Neither presidential candidate has not made an effort to win their support. When Polish Americans marked the 400th anniversary of the arrival of first Poles to America at the beginning of October, neither the Republican candidate John McCain nor Democrat Barack Obama attended the events in Jamestown. It was not accidental: 9 million Americans of Polish extraction simply have less and less say. One reason is that Poles are getting richer and are melting into the American society. Another – that they are organizationally fragmented and lack good leaders. The Polish American Congress, a coordinating centre for almost three thousand organizations, is concentrating on preserving the Polish heritage rather than on political activity.
Przekroj says that Kazimierz Furczon, a senior shepherd from the Tatra Mountains in southern Poland, has trained Polish, German and Spanish customs officials how to tell a genuine Polish oscypek - a smoked cheese made from ewe’s milk - from a fake one. The cheese is now on the EU’s protected list of regional products. Anyone who makes a fake oscypek will be prosecuted. The training was necessary to enable customs officials to recognize the color of the original oscypek, its smell, taste and shape. Just for your information – oscypek most often comes in the shape of a spindle, but also a cylinder and a knob. To make just one, the shepherd shapes it by hand for at least one hour.