Poles largely oppose temporary "war tax" for defence spending

Most Poles are against a temporary tax to fund rising defence spending, according to an IBRiS survey for Rzeczpospolita.

The findings suggest resistance to new levies and limited public awareness of the true cost of national security.

Nearly 58% of respondents opposed the measure, while around 32% supported it. Support was highest among ruling coalition voters and left-leaning citizens, while right-leaning voters and opposition supporters were largely against. Age also played a role: 77% of 30–39-year-olds and nearly 87% of those 40–49 opposed the tax.

Economists say the results reflect a lack of public debate on Poland’s finances. “Few discussions focus on whether government spending is too high relative to taxation,” said Marcin Mrowiec of Grant Thornton. Ludwik Kotecki of the Monetary Policy Council added that the public underestimates the costs of modernising the military.

Poland plans to spend around PLN 200 billion on defence in 2026, equivalent to 4.8% of GDP, up from 2.4% in 2022. The government aims to maintain 5% of GDP for military spending annually, potentially reaching PLN 2 trillion over the next decade.

Currently, spending comes from the state budget and the Armed Forces Support Fund, but public finances are under strain: the fiscal deficit exceeds 6% of GDP, and public debt is projected to rise from 55% of GDP in 2025 to 75% by 2029.

Experts suggest a “war tax” should be universal or involve higher rates on existing taxes. Marcin Zieliński, chief economist at the FOR Foundation, stressed that controlling spending—especially social spending—is more urgent than new taxes.

By Aghakazim Guliyev