Most Poles oppose temporary defense tax, poll finds

A majority of Poles are against introducing a temporary tax to fund military modernization, despite growing threats from Russia, according to a new poll by IBRiS for the newspaper Rzeczpospolita.

FILE PHOTO: Polish soldiers gesture as they ride in a K2 tank, delivered in the first batch of arms from South Korea under contracts signed in recent months, during a military drill at a military range in Wierzbiny near Orzysz, Poland, March 30, 2023.

REUTERS/Kacper Pempel

The survey found that nearly 58% of respondents oppose the proposed tax, with 30.4% saying they "rather not" support it and 27.4% "definitely not." About 32% supported the idea, while 9.1% were undecided.

The proposal, aimed at boosting defense spending amid heightened security concerns, found the most support among government coalition voters (50.1%), left-leaning respondents (56.5%), and backers of politicians such as Adrian Zandberg, Rafał Trzaskowski, and Magdalena Biejat (44–58%).

Opposition was strongest among right-leaning voters (64.4%), opposition party supporters (68%), and voters for Karol Nawrocki, Sławomir Mentzen, Grzegorz Braun, and Szymon Hołownia—with 63–67% in those groups rejecting the tax.

The poll showed minimal differences by education, gender, or location, though women were slightly more skeptical than men. Notably, rejection was highest among those aged 30–39 (77%) and 40–49 (nearly 87%).

(jh)

Source: PAP