Waltz-ing into the fray
Civic Platform's candidate for the post of Mayor of Warsaw, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, has officially begun her election campaign. Among her priorities, Gronkiewicz-Waltz enumerated cheaper flats, better transportation within and around the city, more investments, as well as transparency and decentralization in decision-making.
"Owning a flat is the right of each and every family. Prices are skyrocketing because the authorities speculate with plots of land. Only 14 percent of Warsaw has spatial development plans, this must be changed," PO's candidate said.
She believes that the city authorities could strike a deal with Polish Railways (PKP) - the owner of very attractive plots in the center of Warsaw.
"PKP owns 400 ha of land just between the Wola and Ochota districts. Six thousand people could live and work there if we developed these territories," she stressed.
According to Gronkiewicz-Waltz, Warsaw also needs new subway lines, more trains going to the city's outskirts and a 'central ticket' valid for all means of transportation within the city and to the suburbs.
"Rail transport in Warsaw is not used properly. There are 100 km of rails in this city and eight lines lead to the center from the outskirts. We have to build new stops, [and] encourage the park-and-ride system," Waltz said.
The former head of the central bank believes the proposed airport in Modlin should be used by low-fare carriers and connected to the city center by train, which could run on renovated military rails. She believes the same should be done for Okęcie.
Gronkiewicz-Waltz was also critical of the city's management to date: "Money is not an issue. Warsaw has an zł.8-billion budget, plus subsidies from the EU and the state budget. The problem is they haven't been used properly. I would also like to see public-private partnerships used more widely. The Irish example shows it can bring great results."
The PO challenger is currently trailing former Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz in the polls, and when asked about program differences between her and the PiS candidate, she said: "I don't want to conduct negative electoral campaign. I can only tell you that I'll do all I promised for sure. It's guaranteed."
