photo - PAP/Radek Pietruszka
With his centre-right Civic Platform party currently trailing in two new opinion polls, Tusk hopes that a restatement of the government's policy goals will rejuvenate a flagging coalition with the Polish Peasants Party (PSL) as Poland's economy slows after years of growth far above the EU average.
In the policy statement to MPs, Friday morning, which was attended by President Bronislaw Komorowski, Donald Tusk said his coalition was aiming to serve a “full term” and called for a vote of confidence from MPs so as to be able to do so.
The coalition currently has a slim, four seat, majority in the lower house.
PSL's agriculture minister Stanislaw Kalemba earlier told the TOK FM radio station that his party will maintain discipline in parliament.
“There's no such possibility that four [of our] members will not participate in the vote,” he said.
Law and Justice (PIS), the largest opposition party in parliament, has also called for a no confidence vote in the lower house of parliament, and wants to form an all-party coalition run by 'experts'.
'A difficult year'
“2013 will be a difficult year, not only for Poland,” Donald Tusk told parliament, “and this year has not been easy for people.
“Our task, everyday, is to regain the faith of the people. I will not shirk my responsibilities, which is why there will be a vote of confidence,” he said.
The prime minister went on to list, what he saw as the successes of 2012, such as the organisation of the Euro 2012 football championships, which Poland co-hosted with Ukraine.
“Together we were able to put on this great event,” he said.
Whereas last years policy statement by Tusk to parliament concentrated in bringing down the budget deficit, this year's statement emphasised investment to stimulate the economy.
“Maintaining economic growth, which has been admired the world over, is the first priority for the government in 2013,” Tusk said, announcing 40 billion zloty (10 billion euro) of investments till 2015, which, he claimed, would not threaten an increase in the deficit.
Priorities for investment will be in the energy sector, which “has been neglected for years,” Tusk told MPs, mentioning the ongoing exploration for shale gas, which will become “a national source of energy”.
To cheers from Civic Platform MPs, he also announced new tenders for badly needed road construction, including a bypass for the western city of Poznan and completion of a highway between Warsaw and Gdansk.
There will also be major investment in science and research and development and the equivalent of 2 and a half billion euros will be going to the armed forces in the years 2013-2014 and 25 billion euros till 2022.
“We must maintain growth through investment,” Tusk said, saying that this was the only way to create new jobs.
'Family revolution'
PM Tusk also announced a “family revolution”, with an extension of maternity leave from 6 months to one year and an increase in childcare facilities and investment in nurseries.
On calls by conservative MPs to tighten still further Poland's already strict abortion laws, Tusk said: “We want women to have children safely […] not scare them with prison”.
He said that the government had no plans to scrap what are known as 'junk employment contracts' in Poland, whereby employers can hire workers without having to pay insurance costs.
Tusk said scrapping such contracts, which are very common in many industries, such as media and catering, would lead to employers laying off workers.
After the speech, which lasted around one hour, MPs will debate the policy statement. (pg)