Aliaksandr Sasnou: Populists, Free Loaders And Thieves Run The Show

Why Polish pensioners live much better than these in Belarus.

Since September 1Poland has launched "Free Drugs For Pensioners". Now Polish pensioners older than 75 years can have free pharma drugs. There are more than 1000 items in the list and it will be amended every two months.

Polish pensioners will have drugs for free. What is the situation with Belarusians?

At a time when Belarusians, it is possible, will bring to a hospital not only drugs bought at their own money, but also droppers, and sometimes even linen, Poland will prescribe free medicines even for those seniors who are treated at home...

Comparisons Made Not In Favor Of The Belarusian Authorities

It should be noted that the decree was signed by the Polish President Andrzej Duda on 4 May. This document ruins the last line of defense of the Belarusian authorities that state Belarus is a "social state". Indeed, in contrast to Aliaksandr Lukashenka, the leader of the neighboring country is fighting for the reduction of the retirement age and do increase the utility bills.

The Belarusian leader used to say: "Do you know the life in Poland?" Now he is silent. But more and more Belarusians learn how people "beyond the Bug River" live.

In numbers, it looks like this: the average salary in Poland has grown steadily, and in early 2016 it has topped $1000. In the second quarter it fell to 3855 PLN. At the rate of the National Bank of Belarus on Monday, September 12, it equals to 19 million 556 thousand "old" money. Anyway, this is the same $1000.

Pensions in Poland grow steadily, but very slowly. The reason is the low inflation, and sometimes deflation. In 2015 the average pension amounted to 2016 PLN. This year it increases by 0.24% and will allegedly be equal to 2021 PLN: according to the National Bank of Belarus, as of Monday this is 10 million and 252.5 thousand rubles (non-denominated). One more time: this is the average pension in the country.

No Hope For Pension Increase

Amid such pensions Polish authorities introduce the program of free pharma drugs for senior citizens. According to estimates of the Ministry of Health, in 2016 the "75+" program will have 125 million PLN (around €30 million), in 2017 - 560 million PLN (about €127 million).

So, what state can be called a social one - Belarusian or Polish? This question Narodnaya Volya addressed to ex-Minister of Labour Aliaksandr Sasnou.

"There are states even more social. The United States, for example, Austria, Sweden, Norway, former official says. - But, of course, support for pensioners in Poland is not comparable to that in Belarus. But, in my opinion, the introduction of benefits is wrong, because it distorts the economic system, hinders competition, the normal development of the economy. Perhaps, I'm wrong.

Is it worth waiting for Belarusian pensioners for such decision on the part of the Belarusian authorities? Aliaksandr Viktaravich's answer was decisive - no. He believes that it is useless to have hope that Belarusian pensions will somehow be equal to Polish ones: "It will be a monkey business until there are people in power who came to fatten their wallet, not to develop the country!"

Populists, Free Loaders And Thieves

According to the former Minister of Labour, there were times when Belarus and Poland had approximately equal position, and we even had the advantage. But now Polish pensioners have pensions 3-4 times higher. Please, note, prices for many items are even lower. "It happened, because the Poles brought themselves to the "shock therapy". It was in the 1990s. And we defended the old order, and now we have the result predicted 20 years ago. We should not have let populists, free-loaders and thieves to power!"

However, hope for the better should be alive: "Hope is the last thing to die. For example, I hope that this government will someday "kick the bucket". Then some changes for the better are possible."

8 Facts About Polish Pensioners

1.Absolute majority of Poles have pensions from two sources: Government Pension Fund established in 1998 ", everyone was subject to make contributions while working (retired before 1998 have only a state pension).

2. People with a pension which is less than an average one have benefits - medical treatment, targeted subsidies. Even if they are under 75 years.

3. Prices for products in Poland are one of the lowest in Europe. If to draw a parallel with Belarus, the vast majority of their prices are lower by 1.5-2 times.

4. In contrast to a Belarusian pensioner, Polish one has more chances to have a rest at the seaside. And not because of the amount of the pension. But because Poles need no visa to travel across Europe and so on. Airtickets cost extremely low: it is possible to book a ticket at €10-20.

5. If the Belarusian pensioners can travel at discounted prices only to the countryside, the Poles are entitled to a discount of 50% to travel anywhere in the country. They pay only 37% in suburban trains.

6. Polish pensioners wishing to go to museums, galleries, exhibitions, concerts may do it either for free or at a large discount.

7. As well as retired Belarusians, their Polish colleagues (who grew up under socialism) often consider the vacation at a summer cottage the best one. There are a lot of houses. All land plots are registered under the ownership . And this is an inviolable territory in Poland. And now many garden plots are located either within the city limits or close to them. Even in Warsaw there are a lot of suburban cooperatives scattered throughout the suburbs. Depending on the province senior people have travel privileges or travel for free.

8. Pensioners who have reached 75 years do not pay for radio/television. "Young" pensioners enjoy this privilege, depending on the amount of pension.