WARSAW, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki pledged to continue with his mission to "build a Polish welfare state" and to "return to normality" in a key address to the lower house of parliament (Sejm) on Tuesday outlining his government's vision for the next four years.
Morawiecki's speech came after President Andrzej Duda reappointed him as prime minister following the victory of the governing Law and Justice (PiS) party in the Oct. 13 general elections. Last week, Duda also appointed the new members of the Polish government based on Morawiecki's proposals.
"The Poles have entrusted the PiS with the mission of building a modern welfare state," Morawiecki said. "The Poles are seeing their faith in the meaning of promises, of politics, restored."
Describing the international context in which the new Polish government takes office, Morawiecki referred to his country entering the "fourth industrial revolution" in the context of global inequalities. He said that the Polish economy was performing better than ever before and that the fight against inequalities in Poland was progressing.
Morawiecki said that the improving economic situation at home meant that Poles were returning from abroad -- as many as 100,000 had made the decision in the last year.
He said that his government wanted to build a "broad middle class" and to pursue pro-family policies as "the family is the bastion" of Poland. He promised further support measures for families with multiple children.
Morawiecki promised investments in modernizing the country's schools and in healthcare, and said that his government will make bureaucracy more friendly to citizens. He said his government will defend the interests of Polish businesses, particularly small and medium-sized ones, as foreign corporations have already received considerable support in recent decades.
Morawiecki further said his government aims to invest in renewable sources of energy and in the fight against smog, and promised to build more new affordable housing.
President Duda congratulated Morawiecki for his "coherent" vision, which prioritised a "return to normality," "the defense of the family" and Poland's key role in the international arena.
Morawiecki's speech is to be followed by a debate over the proposals, after which Morawiecki's government is expected to be confirmed in a vote of confidence by the PiS-dominated parliament.
