PM Donald Tusk met with representatives of the junior coalition partner, the Polish Peasants’ Party (PSL) yesterday to discuss some of the differing approaches to policies between the government parties.
The talks between senior partner Civic Platform (PO) and junior partner PSL concerned among others the reforms of the Agricultural Social Insurance Fund (KRUS), the law on metropolitan areas and introducing single member constituencies in Poland during elections – a system similar to that in the UK.
At a press conference after the meeting PM Tusk said that in spite of different points of view on the KRUS reform the coalition partners will be able to work out an agreement. For example, at the beginning the social insurance premiums will be paid only by the richest farmers.
On legislative changes, the government is to reform various systems, for example, on pensions. The coalition partners are determined to create an universal system of social insurance – including farmers. At present, the KRUS social pension system is subsidised by the normal ZUS system paid for by everyone else.
The coalition was unanimous in saying that they are not going to introduce any changes to the electoral law before the European Parliament elections, do to a lack of time. Civic Platform is particularly keen on the idea of moving away from a PR system of voting as it creates a multi-party parliament, with one one group in overall control.
The coalition partners also decided to provide help not only for the new metropolitan areas, where Civic Platform has support, but to also support the development of the countryside, where PSL gains much of its votes.
The united front presented at yesterday’s press conference was to correct press reports of splits within the ruling coalition. On Monday, reports in the Metro newspaper and other media outlets claimed that Civic Platform’s minister against corruption, Julia Pitera, is investigating possible nepotism within the Polish Peasant’s party. There have also been splits within the government over a flat tax proposal. It’s also rumoured that PSL is unhappy with the lack of consultation with them by Civic Platform over a host of other policy initiatives.