The head of Poland’s Central Bank has hinted that another interest rate rise may be necessary in the coming year. Speaking yesterday, he addressed the current inflation crisis affecting many European nations. He said he expected inflation to peak at more than 8 perfect in June this year and be significantly less in 2023 while not giving an exact figure. The current target inflation rate is 2.5 percent plus or minus one percent. The interest rate in Poland was increased to 2.25 percent this week – the fourth subsequent hike after a one and a half year period of record low interest rates. The head of the Bank said that “a 3 percent rate rise should not give any adverse effects to the economy”.

Source – Polish Associated Press

Facebook has permanently suspended the Facebook account of Poland’s right leaning “Confederation” party.

Facebook said that the party had repeatedly violated its rule in relation to COVID-19 misinformation and the use of “hate speech”. Confederation leader Krzysztof Bosak said his party would file a civil suit against Facebook. He described the suspension of the party’s Facebook profile as „interference into Polish democracy” aimed at “curtailing the freedom of debate” ahead of elections in the country in 2023 and 2025. The Polish government has also said it will lodge an official protest with Facebook operator Meta.

Source – Polskie Radio

The Polish government is set to recall it’s own ambassador to Prague after he criticised his own country over a disputed coal mine on the border of Poland with the Czech Republic.

The newly appointed ambassador was admonished for making what the Polish government said were unacceptable comments about the disagreement over the Turow mine which the Czech government wants to have closed. The ambassador had said in an interview that the source of the dispute was „a lack of empathy, a lack of understanding and a lack of willingness to engage in dialogue — above all on the Polish side.”

Source – Deutsche Welle

And finally, road traffic accident statistical data shows that 2020 was the safest year on Pomeranian roads since records began with 1/3 fewer people dieing in accidents than the previous year.

There were also 4 percent fewer accidents in 2021 by 4 percent, with the number decreasing from 1856 to 1777. The trend in Pomerania is in contrast with other areas of the country such as the area around the Polish capital which experienced a nearly 10 percent increase in accidents in 2021 compared to the previous year.

Source – Radio Gdańsk

Weather

Today will be a cold and cloudy day in a moderate breeze and temperatures of 1 degrees centigrade (37 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day and -1 degrees overnight. Tomorrow will remain cloudy in a moderate breeze with temperatures of 2 degrees during the day and -2 degrees overnight.

Martin Caren/ua