News / Moody's credit rating of Poland unchanged, but outlook slumps [64]

Moody's Investor's Services have not lowered Poland's A2 credit rating but only dropped the country's economic outlook from stable to negative. Since the date of Moody's verdict had been known in advance, the ruling conservative Law and Justice administration was worried and the anti-government opposition overjoyed by the propsect of a rating cut. That would have supplied the opposition with more ammunition with which to discredit Poland's democratically elected authorities. When rating agency Standard and Poor's (S&P) downgraded Poland's credit rating in January, the opposition claimed that proved the government was ruining the country's economy. In actuality, it was the opposition's clamorous street protests and its attempts to internationalize an internal dispute over the Constitutional Tribunal that created the impression of a country in disarray, although Poland's economy was and remains robust. Moody's said it lowered the outlook on Poland's A2 rating amid fears that plans to lower retirement age and a child-benefit program would place a considerable financial burden on the budget.

USA, Canada / Polish president wins Canada's support, welcomes Canadian troops [2]

During an official visit to Canada Polish President Andrzej Duda Prime received a pledge from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that he would emphasize the need to strengthen NATO's eastern flank at this summer's Warsaw summit. "We welcome Canadian troops to Poland," Duda said during a meeting with Canadian Governor General David Johnston. Canadian soldiers have been stationed on a rotational basis in Poland since the Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and aggression against Ukraine in 2014. Duda emphasized that Ukraine clearly needed help, and Canada agrees that Russia must respect international law, the sovereignty of nations and the inviolability of their borders. Canada has the world's largest Ukrainian Diaspora and has a special relationship with Ukrainians. The Polish president also visited Canada's largest Polonian parish in Missasauga outside Toronto where he thanked Polish Canadians for keeping their ancestral heritage alive.

Known for badmouthing Poland's pro-Polish government no matter what, the resentful and mean-spirited oppostion losers' camp intially claimed Duda was going to Canada as a tourist and would not meet his Canadian oppoiste number, the Governor Genral. It turned out to be an official visit where he met Canada's PM and Governor General as well as MPs.