President to meet parties on pension reform

Joanna Trzaska-Wieczorek, spokesperson at the Presidential Palace says that the issues to be discussed will centre on ways to combat a potential demographic crisis in Poland where the number of old people is growing and the number of those working falls.

“The meeting will focus on ensuring adequate pensions and the financial stability of the pension system in the face of demographic change,” she told the TVP public broadcaster.

The President “is interested in what each party's position is on this,” she added.

The most controversial of the measures to reform Poland's pension system is the proposal to raise the retirement age to 67 years old for both men and women, as put forward by Prime Minister Donald Tusk after his Civic Platform party won last autumn's general election.

The Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) opposition party has called for a referendum on the proposal and Law and Justice (PiS), Poland's largest opposition party, has vowed to oppose the move to longer working lives. (pg)