Election 2011 - opposition to tax the rich?

Party spokesman Adam Hofman told Polish Radio that Law and Justice is “ready” to increase taxes for the rich, but that “it would not be at the cost of citizens, but at the cost of those that have the most.

“We will not take advantage of those with shallow pockets, ” he reiterated.

Hofman made the remarks after being questioned by journalists about hints that party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski had made in an interview with Polish tabloid Fakt.

Law and Justice's chief press spokesman said that Kaczynski would further outline his tax plans at the annual Krynica Economic Forum in southern Poland, which begins today and lasts until the end of the week.

Hofman claimed thast current Minister of Finance Jacek Rostowski had “hidden many icebergs” and that Law and Justice would be obliged to reassess the situation on taking over the department once it had seen the accounts.

At present, Poles pay a Personal Income Tax of 18 percent. However, those that earn 85,528 zloty or more (20,255 euros) must pay 32 percent, according to a modification of the law in 2009.

Taxing the rich may be a popular move with Law and Justice's electoral base, many of which are poor or come from rural areas. (nh/pg)