Roundup: Poland's new PM outlines gov't key tasks, policies

Beata Szydlo, the new Polish prime minister, delivered an inauguration speech on Wednesday, outlining the government's key tasks and policies.

Szydlo said the government's priority will be the security of the Poles and development of the country. Another priority is boosting the economy, especially in the fields of investment and innovation.

Regarding the country's security issues, Szydlo pointed out three goals of Poland's foreign policy: the security as traditionally understood, the economic security, especially in the fields of energy and informatics and obtaining an appropriate international position.

The military security is to be ensured by developing and strengthening Polish military forces, and making investments into armament, which would also contribute to the development of Polish economy. According to Szydlo, strengthening of the NATO eastern flank should also contribute to the country's security.

As far as energy security is concerned, the prime minister announced maintaining the usage of coal, including lignite, as a main source of energy, as well as finishing and expanding LNG terminals.

Regarding the recent terrorist threat, and the refugee crisis, Szydlo said in general terms that "security of Poles" will be her priority. While condemning the last week's terrorist attacks in Paris and vowing solidarity with European Union (EU) countries, Szydlo remained reserved as far as migrants matters are concerned.

She added, though solidarity is needed, EU cannot burden European countries with problems that other EU members created. "The issue of refugees is making us aware that the question of solidarity must be defined clearly," Szydlo said, adding that "one cannot call attempts to export problems, which some countries have created without others' participation to be solidarity."

Szydlo also spoke of the social spending pledges made by Law and Justice (PiS) party during the campaign. She announced that Poland would inject 1 trillion zloty (250 billion U.S. dollars) to ensure the innovation and economic growth.

Among the policies aimed at improving the country's economic situation and well-being of the citizens, Szydlo announced that her government will support Polish small- and medium- size enterprises by lowering the CIT (corporate income tax) rate to 15 percent, while the taxes on large retailers and banks will be introduced.

"We have to break out of the middle-income trap... In order to do that, we must use all of the reserves that we have," Szydlo said, highlighting that the main task of the new government is to make Poland's economy based on investments and innovation, and not cheap labor.

Subsequently, Szydlo referred to various fields of the country's economy and social grounds, announcing the reforms of law system, medical care system, education system and many others.

Former ruling party, Civic Platform, as well as some economists criticized the fiscal plans as "unrealistic" and pointing out the promises were too generous for almost all social groups.

Beata Szydlo was sworn as the new Polish prime minister on Monday. The rightist party PiS won parliamentary election on Oct. 27, taking 235 seats in 460-seat Sejm, or lower house of the Polish Parliament, which gives them a majority. In May, the candidate of PiS, Andrzej Duda, won the presidential election. Endit