Mr Michał Moskal criticises the government for the chaotic plans for changes in travel reliefs, which can hit the pockets of the poorest Poles.
Member of the Polish Parliament Michał Moskal, together with the MPs Andrzej Adamczyk, Mariusz Błaszczak, Dariusz Stefaniuk and Anna Gembick, submitted a post-interpelling (No 9461) to the Minister of Infrastructure Dariusz Klimczak of the PSL, harshly criticizing the government for its chaotic and opaque plans to change the rail and bus relief system. The interpelation, announced on 22 April 2025, reveals the deficiency of analyses, consultations and responsibilities in the work of the ministry, which may consequence in the deduction of the poorest Poles, including pensioners, persons with disabilities and multi-children families, benefiting from reliefs on the way to school, university or doctor.
Travel discounts are discounts for train and bus tickets, which are legally available to various social groups specified as students, pensioners, people with disabilities, veterans, soldiers or multi-children. Most frequently they include discounts from 37% to 95%, depending on the group, and are recorded in various laws. They let cheaper travel, frequently crucial for the poorest who usage public transport to scope work, doctor, school or university. According to media information, the Ministry of Infrastructure plans to "simplify" the system, limiting the relief to 2 levels – 1 advanced (about 50%) and 1 lower – without clear details who will lose.
"The government under the leadership of the PSL minister Dariusz Klimczak prepares changes that can be a blow in the pockets of the poorest. Pensioners, students, people with disabilities who, thanks to their reliefs, go to medical appointments or school may lose access to cheaper tickets. It is outrageous that the ministry operates in chaos, without analysis and consultation," said Michał Moskal.
The interpelation points to a deficiency of transparency in the plans of the resort, which did not find which groups would lose the existing discounts, nor erstwhile the changes would enter into force – in 2025 or 2026. Mr Moskal besides criticises the transfer of work on the draft to the budget department alternatively of to the railway department, which shows a deficiency of coordination.
"I am asking who from the management of the Ministry of Infrastructure pilots the task of changes in travel allowances – or Minister Klimczak himself, or his subordinate Deputy Minister? The deficiency of clarity on this issue is evidence of chaos and of disregard for the needs of the weakest social groups," said Moskal.
Mr Moskal asks in an interpelling why the ministry did not supply details of the changes, whether the impact on relief dependent groups (pensions, people with disabilities, multi-children) was analysed erstwhile public consultations were held and how the government would justify reducing the reductions in the age of rising costs of living. It besides points to the deficiency of action to prevent transport exclusion and asks for alternate solutions that would not limit the powers of beneficiaries.
“At a time of galloping inflation, the government should support the poorest, not take relief from travel to a doctor or school. The Ministry of Infrastructure operates in the dark, exposing Poles to transport exclusion. This is an anti-social policy for which the weakest will pay," said Moskal.
Intervention No 9461 was published on the Polish Sejm website and is available at this link: https://www.sejm.gov.pl/Sejm10.nsf/InterpelationTresc.xsp?key=DG3AHC
Mr Moskal calls on the government to retreat from its chaotic plans, to conduct broad public consultations and to present analyses that will guarantee that no group loses its erstwhile relief.
"We will not let the government to quietly deprive Poles of the right to cheaper trips. The poorest deserve support, not further burdens," said Moskal.
(photo in the heading: photograph by Tomasz Chmielewski)
