Welcome to the fifth part of our unique survey of all the main political parties standing in the European parliamentary elections in Poland on June 7.
We sent a questionnaire to each of the election committees asking them, in English, what their policy positions were on religion, immigration, enlargement, the single currency and more. We hope that the answers they have given will help those living in Poland who do not speak Polish make a choice on polling day. It may even help Poles make a choice, too!
We have not edited the answers in any way.
Today we ask the parties about their stance on the global financial crisis – for a full list of the surveys we have published so far go here.
What kind of anti-crisis strategy should the EU lead?
1. Unia Polityki Realnej (Union of Real Politics)
Slogan: We Bear Freedom to Europe
EP fraction: Independence/ Democracy Group
The worldwide economic crisis has been created from financial market, thus our strategy is to liquidate bureaucracy and bring more freedom to the market. That way the ordinary people (not politicians) could do more business and create wealthiness to each member state of the European Union.
2. Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe (Polish People's Party)
Slogan: Europe’s success. Success for Poland
EP fraction: The European People's Party and European Democrats
The PSL is a follower of public market economy. Strategy of recovering from crisis should take into consideration principles of this type of economy. The main emphasis should be put on keeping and creating new working places. It is necessary to promote employment and investment into social capital. The following actions will be favourable to achieve these goals, such as simplification of the law, assistance of getting to the sources of financing economic activity and promotion of the enterprise’s culture.
3. Samoobrona (Self-defence)
Slogan: Solidary Samoobrona in Europe
EP fraction: none
EU should develop common strategy for all UE members with the same rules of public financial assistance.
4. Polska Partia Pracy (Polish Labour Party)
The committee did not send the questionnaire back.
5. Libertas (Libertas)
Slogan: Libertas means freedom
EP fraction: none
At first European Commission should stop wasting our money on unnecessary projects like propaganda, huge salaries for commissioners and bureaucrats.
6. Sojusz Lewicy Demokratycznej – Unia Pracy (Democratic Left Alliance – Labour Union)
Slogan: Put People First
EP fraction: Party of European Socialists
The Left has repeated and warned many times that the neo-liberal economic policy started by Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher is not good for the world economic development. It has contributed to unequal and incoherent development of regions and to increasing inequalities. The process of globalization is not being used in the right manner – instead of reducing the development gap in the world it further expands it. International corporations and financial institutions use today’s freedom of movement of capital and exploit the weaker states. The present economic crisis should be a clear signal that it is high time to forget the egoistic, conservative and neo-liberal methods of managing the economy and bring back the view of people as subjects who have their wishes, aims and needs.
7. Porozumienie dla Przyszłości - Centrolewica (Agreement for the Future - CenterLeft )
The committee did not send the questionnaire back.
8. Prawica Rrzeczpospolitej (The Right of the Republic)
Slogan: Europe of Normal Families
EP fraction: Union for Europe of the Nations
First of all, it should provide joint and several protection of the financial system and labour markets. Second of all, the EU should invest budgetary funds in those sectors of the economy that ensure workplaces and maintenance of the strategic branches of industry. Moreover, financial support for banks ought to occur only in order to secure deposits and credit agreements. It should not be a support for a financial institution itself.
9. Platforma Obywatelska (Civic Platform)
Slogan: Vote Poland
EP fraction: The European People's Party and European Democrats
The anti-crisis strategy of the EU should be built upon the strong cooperation of the European Parliament, the European Council and the Commission. A pro-market and careful European policy towards the crisis is necessary in order to rebuild the confidence in the markets. The anti-crisis strategy should be based on the coordination of fiscal and monetary policies, as well as activities leading to greater transparency on the European and global financial markets, and the creation of new jobs.
10. Prawo i Sprawiedliwosc (Law and Justice)
Slogan: More for Poland
EP fraction: a new fraction together with British and Czech conservatives
The EU Member States should be able to protect their economies, as long as it is not against the free flow of the workforce. Financial aid should not only be aimed at the banking sector, but also at other sectors, such as the shipyard sector in Poland.