The flood caused billions in losses. Thousands of people are waiting for help. There are bills and ideas for support. Time is of the essence for flood victims. Opposition MPs apparently have time for political arguments. Politicians from the ruling coalition, however, are not concerned about this.
Even where the water has already subsided, the assessment of losses will not be completed for a long time. Thousands of people need support in cleaning, renovation and reconstruction. Local governments are also waiting for systemic state aid – the response is to be a government special act.
– This aid is directed very broadly: to municipalities through simplification of procedures, and to entrepreneurs through specific financial aid, and housing, construction, infrastructure – informs Żaneta Cwalina-Śliwowska, MP of Poland 2050-Third Way.
In the Lower Silesian province alone, the needs already exceed PLN 5 billion. In the Opole province, 7 out of 11 counties are under a state of natural disaster. The government adopted the draft of the special act on Tuesday, and on Thursday the first reading began in the Sejm. The prime minister and the Sejm speaker were told by the opposition that it was too late. – It is a scandal that Hołownia did not convene the Sejm last week – says Piotr Gliński, a member of parliament from Law and Justice.
The government responds that the first aid, including the declaration of a state of natural disaster, was launched on September 16, and two billion złoty has been secured for the first, emergency aid. – This includes flood allowance and a special procedure for granting subsidies to municipalities affected by the disaster – reminds Tomasz Siemoniak, Minister of Internal Affairs and coordinator of special services.
Stronie Śląskie. City after the flood (20/09/2024)PAP/Maciej Kulczyński
What does the special flood act assume?
The amount of benefits already paid has exceeded one hundred million złoty, and the money has gone to over 38 thousand families. Now the government wants to amend a total of a dozen different acts. This includes the already announced support for borrowers – those whose apartments or houses purchased on credit were flooded can count on non-refundable support up to 12 months of installments with interest. The self-amendment also includes provisions on support for entrepreneurs.
– We are introducing a completely unknown aid instrument so far – emphasizes Krzysztof Paszyk, Minister of Development and Technology.
The amount of the one-time intervention benefit, i.e. financial assistance in returning to business, will depend on the number of positions provided and the average income. Payments are to be made quickly – the Minister of Finance has secured one billion zlotys for this assistance. – We, as the government, want economic life there to continue to develop, to continue to stimulate the labor market – emphasizes Krzysztof Paszyk.
Support is also to be provided to employers whose employees suffered during the flood. – They will have their employee's absence reimbursed – explains Marek Sowa, MP of the Civic Coalition.
The injured will be able to count on 20 days off from work. The special act also assumes simplified procedures for providing medical services and changes to the rules for organizing the work of schools so that children from flooded areas are provided with care. In addition, a random allowance for families, PLN 1,000 for the educational needs of children of preschool and school age and another PLN 1,000 to cover energy costs. With pumps and dryers working, costs are soaring, and here too the opposition says: too little, too late.
– We submitted such a bill more than a week earlier than the delayed government bill – said Andrzej Śliwka, Law and Justice MP, during the debate.
Siemoniak on the main assumptions of the draft law on aid for flood victimsTVN24
“They will shout and shout and vote for it in the end”
Law and Justice wants higher payments – temporary and those for the reconstruction or renovation of destroyed houses and apartments. – Not limits for the reconstruction of real estate, but the entire reconstruction of real estate, because a house that has floated away, that does not exist, must be rebuilt – says Piotr Gliński.
The government has earmarked PLN 100,000 for flooded apartments, and PLN 200,000 for flooded single-family houses. In total, up to PLN 23 billion will be secured from the state budget and EU funds for flood-related activities. – The special flood act sounds nice, but it shows that these are empty provisions – assesses Radosław Fogiel, a member of parliament from Law and Justice.
The government responds briefly to such criticism. – They will shout, shout, and vote for it anyway, because they will be afraid of political responsibility, but less emotion, more work – comments Tomasz Trela, a member of parliament from the Left.
The Sejm is to appoint a committee that will work urgently on the final shape of the special act. Local governments need not only money, but also simplified procedures, to start rebuilding infrastructure and destroyed buildings.
– Legal changes are also needed for this, for example in the area of public procurement, procedural issues, issuing permits – indicates Marek Sowa. – I hope that this committee will develop some sensible method – admits Agnieszka Wojciechowska van Heukelom, MP of Law and Justice.
The final vote on the bill is scheduled for Tuesday.
Main image source: TVN24