The economy is positive, but what about diplomacy? The expert scores the government before the holidays

Economic and financial stability – this is what prof. Rafał Chwedoruk's greatest contribution to the current government. As he noted, this is happening at a time when the world is facing a crisis. According to the expert, more could have been expected from the government's foreign policy.

Politics at the Christmas table

On Tuesday, just before Christmas, the guest of the PAP Studio was prof. Rafał Chwedoruk, political scientist from the University of Warsaw. The conversation concerned, among others, traditions of political arguments at the Christmas Eve table. The professor recalled the National Party's instructions from the interwar period, which called not to divide the nation on holidays.

– I would say that it would be very good if the citizens of our country talked about politics at family tables and differed. However, the problem and challenge is something else: the subject matter of these discussions. Contemporary politics, not only in Poland, is often an excess of form over substance, an excess of emotions over programs – noted prof. Chwedoruk.

Government-president conflict

Please note that one of the topics that divide Poles is, among others: relations between President Karol Nawrocki and the government of Donald Tusk prof. Chwedoruk also referred to history.

– The conflict between the “big palace” and the “small palace” may be the one that unites generations at the family table. Those who remember the presidency of Lech Wałęsa may recognize that today the relations between Donald Tusk and Karol Nawrocki are almost exemplary – noted Chwedoruk.

Successes and failures of Tusk's cabinet

Referring to the two years of Donald Tusk's government, the professor pointed out the greatest – in his opinion – successes and failures of this cabinet. According to him, economic and financial stability is particularly noteworthy.

– We live in very difficult times. The European economy is doing badly, both due to objective reasons, but also due to the policy of the United States, Chwedoruk noted. – Maintaining some stability in this matter – Poland's not-so-worst ratings, which is related, for example, to investment issues, etc., is an art of sorts. Certainly, Finance Minister Andrzej Domański should be mentioned among those who do not deserve a rod, but a gift – he added.

Among the projects implemented by the current government, the professor mentioned, among others: establishing a day off on Christmas Eve, which is in line with the tendency among younger generations to seek a balance between work and private life. The political scientist also praised the introduction of a widow's pension, which “due to demographic problems and challenges related to an aging society, is a very important reform.”

– If we look at various types of deficits, despite the popularity of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, we could probably expect more from this government in terms of foreign policy. The complex Polish-Ukrainian relations demonstrate this. Nothing changed here. Just as Poland did not pursue any policy towards Ukraine in the times of PiS, it does not pursue it any longer. And this, I would say, contributes to starting a spiral of social moods, which can easily be followed by politicians who are not always responsible and use such tensions to deepen them, Chwedoruk said.

He also drew attention to the Ministry of National Education. Among his successes, he mentioned decisions to limit religious hours and the elimination of the “History and Present” subject, in line with social sentiment. On the other hand, he pointed to “being embroiled in a discussion about housework.”

Interview by Michał Torz (PAP)