Editor's note: It's the investments, stupid

That's why, just after parliamentary elections, while a new government was being formed, we organized a debate of business leaders with Cezary Mech - author of Law and Justice's (PiS) economic program and the party's candidate for Finance Minister.

From a person who is behind the economic concepts of Law and Justice we expected concretes. So we asked him: What is the new government's recipe for attracting and stimulating investments in Poland?

WBJ readers took part in the debate. Among them CEOs of companies representing some of the most important branches of the Polish economy: construction, financial, automotive.

The entrepreneurs had an avalanche of questions related to the future of investments in Poland. They asked about concrete issues - will there be cash grants for investors? Will the CIT amount be changed? In what way, if at all will road infrastructure improve?

However, PiS' expert wasn't eager to talk openly with the investors, which doesn't bode well for future government-investor relations. Mech answered very specific questions evasively or simply refused to answer them at all. Why?

The election campaign prevailed over democracy. Mech kept his cards close to his chest before the second round of presidential elections in order not to harm PiS' candidate Lech Kaczyński. This politician who says he opposes a liberal economy could lose   votes if it turned out that his party actually supports a liberal economy and cares about attracting foreign investment to Poland.

It's a pity, because what counts in the case of investments, apart from very specific comparative calculations, is also the investment climate. Such a climate is primarily created by the government. It takes  diligence to build such a climate. You have to start from the first days after the elections and, even the smallest symbols and gestures are of importance.

In a country where the government disregards investors or even holds them in contempt, one simply doesn't invest. Is this what the new government really wants?

Eliza Durka

Editor-in-chief