Jasiński's way

"Many people call me the brakeman but I don't see any reason for such a tag," Jasiński said. "Generally I believe that an economy in private hands functions better, but not every economy ... Many countries have part of their economy, strategic assets, under state control and I don't see any reason why it should be different in Poland."

Jasiński said he would do his best to meet this year's zł.5.5 billion combined target for revenues from sell-offs and dividends gained from state-held stakes in companies.

"I will have to look for this money. Plans envisage it will be found in the utility sector ... I will have to weigh arguments for and against [such sell-offs]," Jasiński said. "We can try to find money from dividends."

Jasiński added that the state should continue to have a strong position in gas transport and in PKN Orlen, the country's largest oil group in which the government and state-controlled companies have a stake of about 33 percent.

When it comes to Unicredit's plans to merge Poland's second- and third-largest banks, Pekao and BPH, Jasiński has strong views.

"Unicredit has it backwards: first it wants to take over [BPH], and then it will want to force the Polish government to agree [to the merger]," he said. "Excuse my expression, but this treats Poland like a 'wild country'. We should not be treated this way." (Reuters)