CRISIS
In December 1976 V meeting of KC PZPR confirmed the program of so-called
economic manoeuvre, which had to consist in restraint and harmonization,
increase of the production, decrease of the import. However the plan was
unsuccessful. Also, under the pressure of the USSR the government increased
investments in war industry. There were more and more the breaks during
work and the buildings stood unfinished. Besides lots of materials and
equipment were stolen. The export production could not develop because
Polish products did not manage to catch up with western ones. After transformations
in the first half of the seventies, Polish economy became dependent on
West countries' supplies. It did not care for environment. More and more
incomes from export was destined for paying off debts. In spite of this,
debts rose and rose all the time.
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| Friday - the queue
of people wanting to buy some food. Saturday - the same place without people
because of free Saturday. |
Economy was falling down. Machines needed repairs. Although more and
more coal-mines brought the coal out, peasants could not get it. Goods
were bought from the shops, the queues were longer and longer, especially
to buy a piece of meat. The corruption was spreading. There were lacks
of medicines and not enough beds in hospitals.
At the beginning of December 1979 strong frosts and high snow caused
a cataclysm. Most buses, trams did not work. There was too little coal
to keep warmth. In that time authority pretended that they saw nothing.
On TV and radio it was said that Poland is one of the most developed countries.
Mass media were not allowed to show the real situation in Poland. The authorities
were isolated from the society. There were more and more edifices of party
committees, Militia offices.
It was said that the prime minister Jaroszewicz was responsible for
the collapse of economy, who was dismissed on June 25th 1976. However Edward
Gierek did not agree to it. On February 11-15th 1980 there was VIII meeting
of PZPR. Gierek was greeted as a leader of the party and a father of Poland.
During the discussion delegates started to attack the prime minister and
the government. In that situation Jaroszewicz resigned. It was confirmed
on February 18th during Seym negotiations. Also then the new prime minister
was chosen.
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| Stanislaw Kania |
At the meeting new posts were divided. Edward Babiuch was a new prime
minister. Some members made their positions stronger: Jerzy Lukaszewicz,
Zdzislaw Zandarowski, Stanislaw Kania, Andrzej Werblan and also Grudzien,
Jaruzelski, Jagielski, Karkoszka, Kowalczyk, Wrzaszczyk, Pyka, Jablonski,
Pinkowski.