Prime Minister Donald Tusk has openly admitted that his government will not raise the tax-free allowance to 60,000 zloty, as had been promised before the election. The decision has sparked a wave of disappointment – is Tusk giving up on his most recognizable promises after just two years in government?
A promise that attracted hundreds of thousands of voters
Raising the tax-free allowance to 60 thousand zloty was among the most important election slogans of the Civic Coalition (KO). It appeared in the “100 concrete steps for the first 100 days of government”. No wonder – the change would have been real support for millions of taxpayers and an catchy slogan, because it was simple to understand.
A hard budget reality
In recent interviews, Donald Tusk stated directly that an increase in the tax-free allowance “will certainly not happen in 2026, nor probably in 2027”. He stressed that the current budget cannot bear this change, because security spending is the priority – Poland now allocates as much as 5% of GDP to armaments, a record in Europe. The prime minister explains that the war just across the eastern border forces funds to be shifted from other important projects to the military.
Are voters feeling disappointed?
Polls leave little doubt – more than half of Poles believe Donald Tusk’s government has failed to keep its promises. Among the biggest disappointments, the issue of the tax-free allowance is frequently cited.
However, the government’s flexibility has not been limited to this topic. Only some of the postulates from the “100 concrete steps” have been implemented after a year. The test of political and financial realities has proven very difficult for the current team. Research shows that even some voters of the ruling coalition admit they expected more.
Why won't there be a higher tax-free allowance?
Main reasons:
- The international situation and the highest defence spending in decades
- The excessive deficit procedure imposed on Poland by the EU
- The cost of introducing the new threshold, estimated at 50-55 billion zloty a year – every delay is an attempt to balance promises against fiscal realities
What next for Tusk's promises?
The government assures that the idea of a higher tax-free allowance has not been definitively dropped, but priorities have changed. “When we are ready with a project and a timetable, I will let you know” – says the prime minister. For now, however, voters may feel like passengers at a station whose train has left without any announcement.
Important questions without answers
Failing to deliver on one of the main promises from the “100 concrete steps” undermines the credibility of those in power. At the same time, it shows how difficult government compromises are in the face of unforeseen circumstances. Will voters show understanding, or will they permanently lose trust – that is a question the next elections will answer.
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