Szydło calls on Kopacz not to adopt euro

Szydło, who will lead PiS’s election campaign in the autumn, said if PiS wins it will "definitely not" bring in the euro.

PO has not itself outlined firm plans for introducing the euro, but has traditionally been closer to the idea than its right of centre rival.

The issue reared its head in the presidential election in May, won by PiS candidate Andrzej Duda, and has dominated debates in the run-up to Sunday's referendum in Greece.

Szydło is following a political tactic deployed by Duda against incumbent president, PO's Bronisław Komorowski, during the election in May, namely to paint herself as a guardian of the nation's national identity and PO as giving away Polish sovereignty to Brussels.

”I appeal to PM Ewa Kopacz to withdraw PO’s plans to introduce the euro. Withdraw from the idea if you don’t want Poland to become a second Greece,” Szydło said at a press conference at the Sejm on Thursday. She added that Greece’s problems started when it joined the eurozone.

Poland has no target date for Polish euro adoption or for when the country will join ERM-II (the fifth of the euro convergence criteria). Deputy Prime Minister Janusz Piechociński has said Poland will not join the euro until at least 2020. Euro adoption requires the approval of at least two thirds of the Sejm.

Szydło added on Thursday that her government would also abolish the government position of plenipotentiary for introducing the euro in Poland, a position that was established in 2009.

As many as 54 percent of Poles are against the introduction of the European common currency, a poll showed in May. (jh)