June 26, 2015
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The leader of Poland's new, pro-business political movement said Friday that a strong economy in Poland would breathe new energy into the European Union and help it compete on the global level.
Ryszard Petru spoke to The Associated Press after a news conference in which he sought online donations from supporters as a novel, transparent way of financing politics. His movement, ModernPl Association, is hoping for between 12 and 20 percent of the votes in the general elections scheduled in the fall. It was initiated last month and seeks to free the economy from politics. It is directed toward young, enterprising people, an electorate usually associated with the ruling Civic Platform party, which, however, has been losing popularity after almost eight years in power.
Poland's political scene seems poised for a reshuffle following the surprise win of conservative opposition candidate Andrzej Duda in May's presidential election. Petru, an economist with experience in the World Bank and in Poland's banks, also spoke in favor of a free trade agreement with the United States, the long-negotiated Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, saying that would help boost cooperation also in many other areas.
He also backs greater U.S. and NATO military presence in Poland and in the region, because "it is evident that NATO is more needed now than ever before." He did not refer directly to the armed conflict in neighboring Ukraine, that involves Russia-backed separatists.
Petru said he believes Poland's wide participation in European markets would "inspire new energy and release competitiveness of the EU vis-a-vis the rest of the world." On a major EU issue of accepting immigrants from Africa and the Middle East, Petru said he is "in favor, in principle."
"But I am not sure if we (in Poland) are prepared for that," he said.
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The leader of Poland's new, pro-business political movement said Friday that a strong economy in Poland would breathe new energy into the European Union and help it compete on the global level.
Ryszard Petru spoke to The Associated Press after a news conference in which he sought online donations from supporters as a novel, transparent way of financing politics. His movement, ModernPl Association, is hoping for between 12 and 20 percent of the votes in the general elections scheduled in the fall. It was initiated last month and seeks to free the economy from politics. It is directed toward young, enterprising people, an electorate usually associated with the ruling Civic Platform party, which, however, has been losing popularity after almost eight years in power.
Poland's political scene seems poised for a reshuffle following the surprise win of conservative opposition candidate Andrzej Duda in May's presidential election. Petru, an economist with experience in the World Bank and in Poland's banks, also spoke in favor of a free trade agreement with the United States, the long-negotiated Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, saying that would help boost cooperation also in many other areas.
He also backs greater U.S. and NATO military presence in Poland and in the region, because "it is evident that NATO is more needed now than ever before." He did not refer directly to the armed conflict in neighboring Ukraine, that involves Russia-backed separatists.
Petru said he believes Poland's wide participation in European markets would "inspire new energy and release competitiveness of the EU vis-a-vis the rest of the world." On a major EU issue of accepting immigrants from Africa and the Middle East, Petru said he is "in favor, in principle."
"But I am not sure if we (in Poland) are prepared for that," he said.
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