Poland’s government is facing sharp internal criticism over a proposed levy on the world’s largest technology companies, with a senior MP warning that Washington will impose sanctions that far exceed any revenue Warsaw might collect.
Marcin Horała, deputy speaker of the Sejm and a member of the Development Plus party, told the Polsat News programme “Polityczny WF z gościem” that while he supports the idea in principle, acting unilaterally would be a costly mistake.
“This will result in a very harsh reaction from the United States,” Horała said, according to Polsat News. “If someone can show me that we will earn more from this tax than we will lose as a result of the sanctions – which will inevitably follow – then okay, please go ahead. But in my opinion, it is clearly the opposite.”
The draft legislation from Poland’s Ministry of Digitalisation would impose a 3 per cent charge on revenues earned in Poland by the biggest global technology firms. The new rules are due to take effect on 1 January 2027.
Only EU-wide move would soften the blow, says MP
When pressed by interviewer Marcin Fijołek on the fact that several European Union member states have already introduced similar measures, Horała replied that Poland now has “comparative material” to assess the consequences. “In my opinion, the losses are greater, but if someone presents a solid analysis proving otherwise, I am open to discussion,” he said.
The deputy speaker acknowledged that the calculation would change if the tax were implemented across the entire European Union. “Of course, because then it’s not us who will get hit, but the whole of Europe will share that blow in solidarity,” he said.
Horała also criticised what he called American assertiveness, but added a pointed remark about the European Union’s own record. “In a situation where EU recovery funds were unlawfully withheld from us in order to change the government, we have an unbeatable record when it comes to assertive allies limiting our sovereignty,” he said.
Internal party feuding takes centre stage
The interview also saw Horała take aim at his former allies in Law and Justice (PiS), the party he left to join former prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki’s new grouping. He argued that PiS made a “fatal error” in autumn 2025 by radicalising its message instead of focusing on everyday economic issues.
“Instead of de-escalating the conflict, instead of firmly sticking to economic topics concerning the daily life of ordinary people, they went for radicalisation of the message, into sharp confrontation, trying to win back votes from Grzegorz Braun by resembling Grzegorz Braun. That was a mistake that gave oxygen to Donald Tusk,” Horała said, referring to Poland’s current prime minister.
He also criticised PiS’s internal management. “If someone were to describe how Law and Justice is managed, they should get a Nobel Prize if there were one in that field, because it defies all principles. Unclear division of competences, management through conflict, lack of accountability – and it works. Or rather, it seems to be working worse and worse. This formula is definitely running out of steam,” the MP said.
What this means for Poles in Poland
The proposed digital services tax would target revenues – not profits – of multinational technology platforms operating in Poland, including search engines, social media, online marketplaces and streaming services. If enacted, it would affect companies such as Google, Meta, Amazon and Apple.
For ordinary consumers and businesses in Poland, the key question is whether those firms would pass on the cost. Experience from France, Italy and other countries that have introduced similar levies suggests that at least part of the burden is typically shifted to users through higher advertising rates or subscription fees.
The draft law is still under consultation and has not yet been approved by the Council of Ministers or debated in parliament. The Ministry of Digitalisation has not published a full impact assessment showing expected revenue or a detailed analysis of potential US countermeasures. Polish businesses that rely on digital advertising or cloud services should monitor the progress of the bill closely, as any retaliatory tariffs from Washington could affect a far wider range of goods and services than the tech sector alone.
