This Newsweek article discusses Poland's severe demographic decline, highlighting the failure of the ruling PiS party's family policies to increase birth rates. The article points to the government's halting of in-vitro fertilization funding and restrictive abortion laws as contributing factors.
The article criticizes the PiS government's housing program, healthcare system, and lack of support for mothers returning to work as ineffective. While initiatives like the 500+ program existed, they proved insufficient to boost birth rates. The government's approach, the article argues, has been more ideological than effective.
The article illustrates the severity of the situation by stating that Poland's population decreased by 70,000 in the first half of 2023, equivalent to the populations of cities like Piła or Konin. Experts warn of a future social, economic, and financial crisis, potentially impacting the social security system within 15-20 years.
The author presents a negative assessment of the PiS government's handling of the demographic crisis. They accuse the government of prioritizing ideology over effective policy, leading to a critical situation that threatens Poland's future.