Until recently, it seemed that there was no way the coalition would reach an agreement on lowering health insurance contributions for entrepreneurs. The Left was firmly against it, Third Way was firmly against it, and the Civic Coalition was negotiating. Talks on this matter will begin at the Ministry of Finance on Thursday.
This will be the first in a series of meetings and negotiations between the Minister of Finance and representatives of coalition clubs. On Thursday, the Minister will meet with politicians from Poland 2050. – A joint meeting will be necessary, where we will see what common position we can agree on – informs Minister of Finance Andrzej Domański. – We must reach an agreement in August – says MP from Poland 2050-Trzecej Droga Ryszard Petru.
For now, each of the coalition partners is putting their own, completely different idea on the table regarding changes to the health insurance contribution. And they will go to the minister with these solutions, but – as it results from our unofficial information – at one of the last coalition meetings, a decision was made to firstly come out of the government with one common project. Secondly, there must be political agreement for the first, even minor changes concerning entrepreneurs to come into effect as early as the new year.
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– The priority is to achieve a situation in which a chair sold by an entrepreneur or a table will not pay health insurance contributions – comments Mariusz Witczak, MP of the Civic Coalition. – This is the starting point – he adds.
This information was confirmed by the Minister of Finance. – As of January 1, health insurance premiums for fixed assets, such as the sale of a car, will not be collected – announces Andrzej Domański.
Ryszard Petru on health insurance premiumTVN24
Reducing health insurance premiums is one of the points of the coalition agreement
Donald Tusk built a large part of his election campaign on support for entrepreneurs. And the leaders of today's coalition, after the actual increase in the health insurance contribution by Law and Justice as part of the Polish Deal, assured that their government would withdraw from those harmful – as they said – solutions. – Return to the health insurance contribution that does not kill small businesses – said Prime Minister Donald Tusk. – The issue of the health insurance contribution is our to be or not to be in the coalition – emphasized the Speaker of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia.
– I'll say it straight: if we don't lower the health insurance premium, the Confederation will put it on its banner and play on it in the presidential campaign. This could end badly for the entire coalition – warns Ryszard Petru. – Is the Left ready to make concessions? We are ready to talk, but we will talk with Excel in hand, which means we will simply count it – says Left MP Anita Kucharska-Dziedzic.
The reduction in health insurance contributions is primarily one of the points of the coalition agreement, which all leaders agreed to. The agreement does not contain specific solutions, but there is a commitment to withdraw from the “oppressive tax and insurance system” by, among other things, introducing favorable rules for calculating health insurance contributions. However, almost 9 months later, the coalition partners are still discussing.
– This is our common goal, which we agreed on as part of the coalition agreement, so let's keep our word. Grandma's pension is in, widow's pension is in. Let the health insurance contribution be in as well – appeals Ewa Szymanowska, MP of Poland 2050-Third Way.
The dispute concerns not only how, but also how much money from the budget the government will agree to allocate for relief, primarily for entrepreneurs. – In such a situation, it would be necessary to give up other, much less necessary, or downright harmful programs, such as the still considered zero percent credit – comments Confederation MP Michał Wawer.
The government bill is to be ready after the parliamentary recess.
Main image source: TVN24