Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński announced an amendment to the draft law on the defense of the homeland. During his speech in the Sejm, Kaczyński said that the amendment assumed the allocation of 3% of GDP for armaments next year. In the original draft, it was said to reach 2.3% of GDP in 2023 and 2.5% in 2024.

Kaczyński is aware of the restrictions potentially imposed by the European Union on the budget deficit. He emphasizes that Poland negotiates this limit and there is a chance that the expenditure on armaments will not be included in that limit.

The deputy prime minister spoke on the amendment to the law on the defense of the homeland explaining that that law was prepared not only before the outbreak of the war but also before the concentration of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border. Nobody thought that the first such drastic measures would happen so soon. Hence, other amendments will be introduced into the law at the committee.

Kaczyński noted that the army should have a deterrent function. “We want peace, we don’t want war. To make this peace a fact, the opponents must be convinced that the attack on Poland will not pay off. We must have a very strong army”.

Kaczyński added that if Putin’s plan were to succeed within several dozen hours, the world’s reaction would be milder.

It must be realized that only nations defending themselves will receive help, including help from NATO. Poland is counting on such help, but first, it has to count on itself. Deputy Prime Minister believes that a new social pedagogy is needed, which will support, strengthen and often rebuild the Polish society.

“Only then will we be sure that a very well-armed and large army will be able to act”, said Kaczyński.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński