As we wrote in Theme, gas stations are getting hotter. Analysts e-petrol.pl inform that alternatively of calming the marketplace we are dealing with dynamic, even tense price changes. In any regions of Poland, rates can vary even respective times in 1 day.
Experts do not have good news: from Monday, March 23 drivers are waiting for further increases. Petrol Pb95 practically disappears from the level below PLN 7 per litre (prognosis says PLN 6.94–7.09), and diesel surpasses the limit of PLN 8 and can cost up to PLN 8.25 per litre. This is simply a clear leap compared to the erstwhile week, erstwhile the average price of diesel was inactive 7.76 PLN.
Also costly is Pb98 petrol (up to 7.91 zł/l) and autogas, although in its case increases are little noticeable. In practice, this means 1 thing: refueling becomes an expanding burden on the home budget.
Should the government respond to rising fuel prices? So do the Poles.
As fuel prices rise, the question is whether the state should enter the game. Finance Minister Andrzej Domański in an interview with TVN24 stressed that after the outbreak of the armed conflict in the mediate East, the government is constantly monitoring the situation on the fuel markets.
He added that if persistent advanced prices would require this, fuel taxes could be reduced. However, he reserved that these were "issues of months, not days." It is worth remembering that specified decisions at the same time mean little budget revenue, so they require political courage and cost calculation.
However, social force is clearly increasing. The United Surveys by IBRiS survey for Virtual Poland leaves no doubt: as many as 69.4% of respondents believe that the government should actively intervene to lower fuel prices, e.g. through these taxation changes.
As many as 44.2% of respondents declared that they powerfully agree with specified a request. Another 25.2% replied "I agree". This means that the majority of the public not only supports the possible actions of the government, but even expects them.
The opponents of state interference are by far little – 19.5 percent. Of which only a tiny group (3.5%) opposes this strongly. 11.1 percent of respondents have no opinion.
Political divisions? Smaller than expected
The results of the WP survey by electorates are interesting. Among the voters of the ruling coalition (KO, Left, 3rd Way) most – 52% – support intervention, although any of them do so without full conviction. At the same time, as much as 36% of this group opposes specified actions.
In turn, the vote of opposition (PiS, Together, Confederacy) support is even higher and more decisive. As much as 64% say "decisively yes", and 22 percent say "preferably yes". In total, this gives as much as 86% of supporters of state interference in fuel prices.
However, it is worth noting any differences within this group – free marketplace group sympathizers are more skeptical. Among the supporters of both Confederations, the Sławomir Mentzen and Grzegorz Braun party, only 23 percent powerfully support intervention, and 43 percent do so with little enthusiasm. besides interesting is the attitude of the undecided and unvoted – as many as 66% of them advocate the actions of the government.
Why is fuel expensive? The key is in the Strait of Ormuz
Although we feel the problem locally, its causes are global. The most crucial point of inflammation is the Ormuz Strait – a strategical way linking the Persian Gulf to the arabian Sea. It is through this narrow part of the planet that flows about 20% of global oil and gas supply. all disruption in this region is immediately affecting the prices of natural materials, as we see present erstwhile the mediate East is at war.
In fresh days Iran has importantly reduced traffic in the Strait, which, combined with tensions and attacks on oil infrastructure in Kuwait, has sparked a sharp emergence in oil prices on global markets. Experts have no doubt: if the situation does not calm down, the effects may be more serious. Not only further increases in fuel are involved, but besides problems in global supply chains and inflationary pressures.
The situation is so serious that U.S. president Donald Trump gave Iran a hard ultimatum. "If Iran does not full open without threats, the Ormuz Strait within 48 hours of that moment, the United States of America will strike and destruct their various power plants, starting with the largest," he wrote on fact Social. The deadline set by the American leader is Monday at 7:44 p.m. east U.S. time, which is Tuesday at 00:44 p.m. Polish time.
Tehran's reaction didn't take long. As reported by the media there, as quoted by CNN, a typical of the staff of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Command warned: "If Iran's fuel and energy infrastructure is attacked by the enemy, all energy, IT and water desalination installations belonging to the United States and the government in the region will become targets".
