Editor's note: Taxing problems

Which of the two is going to be the winner will also determine the direction the Polish economy is going to take and the future shape of the state - liberal-leaning or state-oriented.

From the point of view of the Polish economy, taxes are going to be a key issue. I, just like many other citizens, would like the rates to be lower and the fiscal system less complicated. Let the events of the last week be a warning for the new government, regardless of who is the new president.

Roman Kluska, an entrepreneur who was arrested and imprisoned three years ago on the basis of erroneous decisions by tax officers is now demanding zł.1.5 million in damages. The sum, according to his estimates, is interest accrued on the zł.8 million he had to pay in order to be released from prison. If it was not for the unjustified arrest, he might have invested the money. Instead the hard-earned cash was lying in a state-owned account generating very low interest.

Now he is trying to force the State into considering his situation and giving him back his money.

Up to now, taxpayers could only demand compensation for real and direct damages incurred as a result of decisions taken by the tax authorities. Starting from September, the new regulations of the tax code make it possible to demand the repayment of lost profits.

Polish courts may now be flooded by petitions from aggrieved taxpayers, as tax regulations in Poland are extremely unclear, tax officers very presumptuous, and people such as Kluska are growing in number. The taxpayer in Poland is a prisoner of complicated regulations and the whims of tax officers. There's no space for such practices in a real civil society. I hope that from next Monday, the parties who won the elections and are now forming a new government, will seriously get down to reforming taxes in Poland. Their electorate is counting on it.

Eliza Durka, Editor-in-chief