Presidential hopeful in Poland advocates for implementation of property tax to alleviate severe housing shortage.
In a bold move, Magdalena Biejat, the presidential contender for Poland's progressive New Left (Nowa Lewica) party, has put housing reform at the forefront of her campaign ahead of the May 18th election. Taking the stage at Włocławek's housing convention this past weekend, Biejat pledged to tackle Poland's housing crisis head-on with her firm stance on key issues.
Hitting the nail on the head, Biejat insists that housing is a fundamental right, not a profit-making venture. She decries developers and banks for putting profits before affordability, promising to champion the ordinary citizen's cause. "I'm the only candidate committed to prioritizing housing," she reaffirmed.
Biejat's critics include Poland's ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) and Warsaw's Mayor, Rafał Trzaskowski. However, she argues that neither has effectively addressed the housing crisis. She points to successful social housing projects in Włocławek as proof of her vision's effectiveness, hoping to replicate the model across Poland without being beholden to foreign examples such as Vienna or Berlin.
Biejat has also expressed her opposition to mortgage loan subsidies, deeming them ineffective in addressing the systemic flaws in the housing market. Instead, she advocates for "fair mortgage terms" with interest caps at 4% and limited bank margins to protect Polish families from undue financial burden. "Banks won't go bankrupt; they'll just earn less," she reassured voters.
A contentious proposal of Biejat's involves introducing a property tax targeting multiple property owners. The tax would fund a social housing development fund through a cadastral tax based on property value. "Tax on properties? You bet! The housing crisis can be solved," she declared confidently. The cadastral tax has long been debated but remains absent from current policies in Poland. Biejat believes this measure would curtail speculative real estate investments while offering needed funds for affordable housing initiatives.
The first round of Poland's presidential election takes place on May 18th. If no candidate secures an outright majority, a second round will be held on June 1st. As the race heats up, Biejat's emphasis on housing reform sets her apart as a powerful voice in a field of candidates hoping to claim the presidency.
By reshaping the perspective on housing as a basic right rather than an economic commodity, Magdalena Biejat seeks to redefine Poland's approach to housing and bring much-needed changes to a nation grappling with escalating housing costs and diminishing availability in the real estate market.
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- Magdalena Biejat, the progressive New Left (Nowa Lewica) party's presidential candidate, believes that housing is a fundamental right, not a profit-making venture, and has incorporated this viewpoint into her political campaign.
- Biejat has criticized developers and banks for prioritizing profits over affordability and vowed to champion the ordinary citizen's cause.
- With her firm stance on key housing issues, Biejat argues that Poland's ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) and Warsaw's Mayor, Rafał Trzaskowski, have failed to address the housing crisis effectively.
- In addition to tackling the housing crisis head-on, Biejat has proposed a property tax targeting multiple property owners to fund social housing development and curtail speculative real estate investments.
- As the race for the Polish presidency heats up, Biejat's focus on housing reform sets her apart as a powerful and unique voice, shifting the perspective on housing as a basic right rather than an economic commodity.
