Poland – One year ago, Mateusz Morawiecki was running from his native Poland Spanish bank Santander’s operations, becoming a symbol of the internationalized economy of the country. Today, he is the minister of development in a Polish government struggling against foreign influence.
His incredible mutation from director of financial operations to spokesman of the new Government demonstrates the willingness of the latter to “re-polonize” the banking sector of the country which is the sixth largest EU economy. The PiS came to power in November last year, intends to “repair” the country. Morawiecki said “We are in the same business model for 27 years,” he said, launched a critique of liberalism and the free market in which Poland has managed to become the most successful European economy. “We fell into the trap, we achieved a great dependence on foreigners.” Mateusz Morawiecki was acclaimed by the financial industry on his appointment as a sign of Poland’s “pro-business” protection attitude, but his recent shift to the party line worries some investors.
As stated by the CEO of First Property Poland, Ben Habib, “He was seen as the face of capitalism in an anti-capitalist government, and many hoped he would be the voice of balance.” Foreign investments in the modernization of Poland freshly output from Communist rule, encouraging the creation of jobs in cities like Warsaw or Gdansk.
The critical nature of the new government policy toward foreign companies doesn’t aim any of them in particular, it intends to just reframe companies that despoil Polish consumers. Reframing also seems more ideological than economic because the party politicians say many foreigners – particularly from Germany – have too much control over crucial sectors such as banking, retail, the telecommunications and all the profits are sent to the headquarters abroad.
