Kwasniewski's proposal for farmers-benefits not meant to be taken literally

While visiting the north-eastern region of Suwalszczyzna, President Aleksander Kwasniewski made a statement proposing special social-benefits for ex-workers of state-owned farms (PGRs). "It is pointless to think about re-training people who are over 50 years old. I would propose a fixed social-benefit instead of standard short-term unemployment benefits." Former deputy Agriculture Minister Henryk Wujec said, "I wonder where the government will get the money for these benefits? The budget cannot afford it, as it is already spending zl. 15 billion a year on subsidies to farmers' pensions and other benefits," said Lech Nikolski from President Kwasniewski' s election campaign team as he tried to straighten out the President's message: "This is a misunderstanding. The President can only support certain solutions, not calculate how much they will cost. If the President says he thinks a certain solution would be favorable, it means he will not object to its introduction." (Gazeta Wyborcza, page 2) T.J.