A nasty touch of Lepperosy
The ad for Aquarius, a Gdańsk-based kayak producer, captures the mood of millions of Poles, as well as that of many foreign investors and outside observers. For months, no mention of Poland in The Economist can go without a dire-sounding warning about "the party of potato-throwing farmers."
But the image this catchphrase evokes is only a very partial truth about the party led by that inimitable people's tribune, Andrzej Lepper. Since launching his political career with the assault and beating of a businessman around a decade ago, the Self-Defense leader has managed to find support across the social spectrum, including among businesspeople.
The man whose favorite election pledge is "to make the thieves with the money pay for their crimes against the Polish nation" hardly looks like your typical champion of business. But Self-Defense's list of candidates for the European parliament is in fact stacked with over 40 percent businesspeople - a much higher proportion than any other party.
The reasons for this have become somewhat clearer thanks to a survey of focus groups of self-professed Lepper fans, published by SMG/KRC and Rzeczpospolita.
Take Paweł, a 42 year-old inhabitant of Łódź who for ten years has run a small construction firm. At first, he operated in the grey economy, but after a while, he says, he "lost his wits" and registered the firm. Since that fateful day, he has been doing exactly the same things as before, only running up debts to the tune of zł.60,000 in overdue taxes. Instead of looking for new business, he spends a large chunk of his time trying to navigate the jungle of incomprehensible and ever-changing regulations. And even when he does find the time to stand in a tender, he harbors little hope of winning, since most tenders are rigged.
Change a few details in Paweł's story, and his concerns could sound like those of an executive at many a large company in this country. Marek Goliszewski, president of the Business Center Club, points out that similar problems plague both the large and the small.
"At a local level, there are many cases like that of Roman Kluska," he says in reference to the former owner and chief executive of Optimus, a Nowy Sącz-based hardware maker famously arrested on trumped-up charges of tax evasion. Kluska was lucky enough to have the resources to fight the authorities in court and in so doing became a media star and emblematic victim of official abuses. His company emerged from the persecution weakened, but has since regained some ground, unlike another victim of similar false accusations, JTT of Wrocław, that was driven to bankruptcy by the tax authorities and protracted legal proceedings. Kluska and his company may have fared better, but the ordeal was enough for Kluska to quit business and engage in charity work.
Andrzej Maciejewski, president of Kienbaum, an executive recruitment firm, is less kind in his evaluation of the motives that drive businesspeople to the Self-Defense flock. He points to the benefits of serving as a member of the European parliament (MEP), such as fat remuneration and immunity from criminal prosecution. These can act as powerful attractions for some of the less successful, and less than honest, businesspeople.
Maciejewski's assertion that the list of Self-Defense sympathizers does not include any of the high profile names in the country's business circles is clearly correct, as witnessed by last week's party convention, which took place at the lion's den, Warsaw's EXPO XXI center, which usually hosts trade fairs and business conferences. Although the event saw a rather different crowd from the usual multi-lingual variety, there was no lack of businesspeople from the provinces, taking the chance to hawk their wares on sight.
"I am not running for the European parliament," said one of them. "But I run an agro-tourism business and if anyone is interested in my services, I will now tell you my mobile phone number." He then proceeded to give the number three times, but sadly both the contact details and the name of the enterprising businessman were drowned out by the din of the unruly crowd, which paid no heed to repeated calls for order. The parking outside was bursting with expensive cars, but few, if any, had Warsaw registration numbers.
"There are no oligarchs or exploiters [among the Self-Defense supporters]," says Lepper. "It's mostly small business." But he has seemingly begun to woo, or at least placate, big business too.
Stanisław Łyżwiński, a Self-Defense deputy, was enthusiastic about the visit to Lepper's office by the Polish Business Council led by its president, Jan Kulczyk, the richest man in the country. He described the meeting as "a very honest exchange of opinions," adding that the party's attitude to privatization was among the topics discussed "in great depth."
"We are not against the rich," Łyżwiński explained. "Those who are honest can sleep soundly. But the thieves should sleep with their eyes open." He went on to say that, while in the West building fortunes tended to take generations, many multi-millionaires here made their money in just a few years. "I'm asking, how is that possible? We will make these people pay and we will review all the privatization deals that were not in the best interests of the state."
His words only echoed those of his leader, who denounced foreign investors as exploiters and promised to stop them from "taking their money out of our pockets and out of our country." He also added that "they should not threaten us with leaving the country, for they need us more than we need them."
The rhetoric is certainly more than enough to sober the thoughts of anyone thinking of investing in the country, as political instability - relative to other EU countries - is a frequently cited concern. But, then again, it is perhaps just that - rhetoric. Just weeks before meeting Kulczyk, Lepper denounced him as a "scavenger" and made his threats about reviewing privatization deals in direct reference to the man who has played a large role in the sale of the country's largest company, PKN Orlen, the national fixed-line telecoms operator, TP SA, and insurance giant PZU. But now he seems to show a little more reverence to "Doctor Jan Kulczyk."
And for all the talk against privatization, Lepper has recently signed an alliance with the Polish Chamber of Retail (PIH), an organization led by Andrzej Lewiński, who was once among the architects of several privatization deals and is now running for the European parliament on a Self-Defense ticket. Lewiński cites Lepper's opposition to the growing competition from supermarket chains as the reason for his involvement with the party.
"The rules are made by those who are in power, and, ladies and gentlemen, Samoobrona will be in power," Lepper says. This rule-making will include renegotiating the accession treaty with the EU, and giving the country higher production quotas for many agricultural goods. Yet again, this is certain to prove an empty promise. But it is already hurting the country's standing in the new Europe and has had clear influence over the recent fluctuations in the exchange rate. The markets would find it difficult to live with Lepper, and most Poles still hope they will never have to, either.
But he has many things going for him in the eyes of millions, including a large number of businesspeople. "We are the voice of the voters," says Lepper, and his words were repeated by several delegates at the party's convention. In a way, that is true. Few supporters seem to care to listen to the Self-Defense leader's arguments, which are few and far between as it is, points out Piotr Ciacek, who co-authored the study by SMG/KRC. Instead of arguments, Lepper prefers pronouncements. But most of all, he gives vent to the anger built up through years of scandal and official arrogance. Poles, and businesspeople in particular, feel oppressed by bureaucracy and neglected by politicians. Lepper, in a way, is fully transparent: through him one can see what plagues the millions of his supporters. This does not make him less dangerous, but makes his success that much more readily understandable. What it does not make clear is what this possible future leader of the country really has in store for us.
But the image this catchphrase evokes is only a very partial truth about the party led by that inimitable people's tribune, Andrzej Lepper. Since launching his political career with the assault and beating of a businessman around a decade ago, the Self-Defense leader has managed to find support across the social spectrum, including among businesspeople.
The man whose favorite election pledge is "to make the thieves with the money pay for their crimes against the Polish nation" hardly looks like your typical champion of business. But Self-Defense's list of candidates for the European parliament is in fact stacked with over 40 percent businesspeople - a much higher proportion than any other party.
The reasons for this have become somewhat clearer thanks to a survey of focus groups of self-professed Lepper fans, published by SMG/KRC and Rzeczpospolita.
Take Paweł, a 42 year-old inhabitant of Łódź who for ten years has run a small construction firm. At first, he operated in the grey economy, but after a while, he says, he "lost his wits" and registered the firm. Since that fateful day, he has been doing exactly the same things as before, only running up debts to the tune of zł.60,000 in overdue taxes. Instead of looking for new business, he spends a large chunk of his time trying to navigate the jungle of incomprehensible and ever-changing regulations. And even when he does find the time to stand in a tender, he harbors little hope of winning, since most tenders are rigged.
Change a few details in Paweł's story, and his concerns could sound like those of an executive at many a large company in this country. Marek Goliszewski, president of the Business Center Club, points out that similar problems plague both the large and the small.
"At a local level, there are many cases like that of Roman Kluska," he says in reference to the former owner and chief executive of Optimus, a Nowy Sącz-based hardware maker famously arrested on trumped-up charges of tax evasion. Kluska was lucky enough to have the resources to fight the authorities in court and in so doing became a media star and emblematic victim of official abuses. His company emerged from the persecution weakened, but has since regained some ground, unlike another victim of similar false accusations, JTT of Wrocław, that was driven to bankruptcy by the tax authorities and protracted legal proceedings. Kluska and his company may have fared better, but the ordeal was enough for Kluska to quit business and engage in charity work.
Andrzej Maciejewski, president of Kienbaum, an executive recruitment firm, is less kind in his evaluation of the motives that drive businesspeople to the Self-Defense flock. He points to the benefits of serving as a member of the European parliament (MEP), such as fat remuneration and immunity from criminal prosecution. These can act as powerful attractions for some of the less successful, and less than honest, businesspeople.
Maciejewski's assertion that the list of Self-Defense sympathizers does not include any of the high profile names in the country's business circles is clearly correct, as witnessed by last week's party convention, which took place at the lion's den, Warsaw's EXPO XXI center, which usually hosts trade fairs and business conferences. Although the event saw a rather different crowd from the usual multi-lingual variety, there was no lack of businesspeople from the provinces, taking the chance to hawk their wares on sight.
"I am not running for the European parliament," said one of them. "But I run an agro-tourism business and if anyone is interested in my services, I will now tell you my mobile phone number." He then proceeded to give the number three times, but sadly both the contact details and the name of the enterprising businessman were drowned out by the din of the unruly crowd, which paid no heed to repeated calls for order. The parking outside was bursting with expensive cars, but few, if any, had Warsaw registration numbers.
"There are no oligarchs or exploiters [among the Self-Defense supporters]," says Lepper. "It's mostly small business." But he has seemingly begun to woo, or at least placate, big business too.
Stanisław Łyżwiński, a Self-Defense deputy, was enthusiastic about the visit to Lepper's office by the Polish Business Council led by its president, Jan Kulczyk, the richest man in the country. He described the meeting as "a very honest exchange of opinions," adding that the party's attitude to privatization was among the topics discussed "in great depth."
"We are not against the rich," Łyżwiński explained. "Those who are honest can sleep soundly. But the thieves should sleep with their eyes open." He went on to say that, while in the West building fortunes tended to take generations, many multi-millionaires here made their money in just a few years. "I'm asking, how is that possible? We will make these people pay and we will review all the privatization deals that were not in the best interests of the state."
His words only echoed those of his leader, who denounced foreign investors as exploiters and promised to stop them from "taking their money out of our pockets and out of our country." He also added that "they should not threaten us with leaving the country, for they need us more than we need them."
The rhetoric is certainly more than enough to sober the thoughts of anyone thinking of investing in the country, as political instability - relative to other EU countries - is a frequently cited concern. But, then again, it is perhaps just that - rhetoric. Just weeks before meeting Kulczyk, Lepper denounced him as a "scavenger" and made his threats about reviewing privatization deals in direct reference to the man who has played a large role in the sale of the country's largest company, PKN Orlen, the national fixed-line telecoms operator, TP SA, and insurance giant PZU. But now he seems to show a little more reverence to "Doctor Jan Kulczyk."
And for all the talk against privatization, Lepper has recently signed an alliance with the Polish Chamber of Retail (PIH), an organization led by Andrzej Lewiński, who was once among the architects of several privatization deals and is now running for the European parliament on a Self-Defense ticket. Lewiński cites Lepper's opposition to the growing competition from supermarket chains as the reason for his involvement with the party.
"The rules are made by those who are in power, and, ladies and gentlemen, Samoobrona will be in power," Lepper says. This rule-making will include renegotiating the accession treaty with the EU, and giving the country higher production quotas for many agricultural goods. Yet again, this is certain to prove an empty promise. But it is already hurting the country's standing in the new Europe and has had clear influence over the recent fluctuations in the exchange rate. The markets would find it difficult to live with Lepper, and most Poles still hope they will never have to, either.
But he has many things going for him in the eyes of millions, including a large number of businesspeople. "We are the voice of the voters," says Lepper, and his words were repeated by several delegates at the party's convention. In a way, that is true. Few supporters seem to care to listen to the Self-Defense leader's arguments, which are few and far between as it is, points out Piotr Ciacek, who co-authored the study by SMG/KRC. Instead of arguments, Lepper prefers pronouncements. But most of all, he gives vent to the anger built up through years of scandal and official arrogance. Poles, and businesspeople in particular, feel oppressed by bureaucracy and neglected by politicians. Lepper, in a way, is fully transparent: through him one can see what plagues the millions of his supporters. This does not make him less dangerous, but makes his success that much more readily understandable. What it does not make clear is what this possible future leader of the country really has in store for us.
