RZECZPOSPOLITA frontpages results of a public opinion survey it commissioned with GfK Polonia assessing the one year in office of the cabinet of Donald Tusk.

Press reviewed by Slawek Szefs.

The coalition government of the Civic Platform (PO) with its junior partner the Polish Peasant Party (PSL) has gained positive marks from 30 percent of the respondents, while 62 percent have voiced their disenchantment with the present team of ministers. Similar polls a year ago yielded  reverse results. Replying to a question on the implementation of election promises made by the coalition parties, Poles were equally harsh on the liberal Tusk cabinet with only 33 percent stating it fulfilled expectations, while 28 percent turned their thumbs down and another 33 percent were inclined to give the government a negative appraisal.

DZIENNIK has a follow up to its Wednesday story revealing a disturbing practice in regional Post Offices where the Internal Security Agency (ABW) had ordered the scanning of addressee and sender data from envelopes handled. The publication has prompted the Ombudsman, the National Inspector of Personal Data Security and the Supreme Auditing Chamber to launch an investigation into the described case to find out whether the procedures enforced by the special services are not in violation of the law. There is an understanding for the necessity to monitor some of the correspondence on grounds of security, but we cannot agree to placing all citizens on a suspect list, just in case, said the National Inspector for Personal Data Security Michal Serzycki quoted by the newspaper.

In its ‘Welcome to Poland’ section GAZETA WYBORCZA has a page full of stories illustrating reactions of Poles to news of the economic crisis knocking on the door of Polish economy. Though experts predict a mild impact of the problem on Polish affairs and appeal for calm, reality has already ushered in some of the negative effects experienced by many Western countries. Parents of one couple, anticipating an imminent wedding, talked their son and daughter into getting a bank loan last year to buy a bigger apartment. Now, the monthly payments have soared due to the changed exchange rates of the Swiss franc. Andrzej, the groom-to-be quit smoking in hope the money saved would balance out the difference. Another victim, Marek, works in the plumbing services sector. Clients have been calling by the dozen to cancel earlier appointments, because they’re short on cash. A year ago I had to send them away when my order book was full for months in advance, he recalls with sorrow. Anna had to retract on plans to modernize her old apartment and what’s even worse, she had to give back a pair of beautiful shoes she had just bought to make ends meet at the end of the month. All because of the unfortunate credit in Swiss francs!