Romney Lauds Poland as an Economic Model

By ASHLEY PARKER

WARSAW - Mitt Romney delivered a lyrical speech here in Warsaw on Tuesday afternoon, lauding Poland as a model for other nations in the throes of economic uncertainty.

Comparing current day Poland to the Poland of the 1980s served, Mr. Romney explained, as an example of a country successfully facing down political tyranny. Mr. Romney said that, “today, as some wonder about the way forward out of economic recession and fiscal crisis, the answer once again is to ‘Look to Poland.' ”

Poland's economy expanded by 4.3 percent last year, far outpacing many of its counterparts in European Union, and after the United States and Afghanistan, the country has committed the third highest number of troops to the war in Afghanistan.

“In a turbulent world, Poland stands as an example and a defender of freedom,” Mr. Romney said. “I, and my fellow Americans, are inspired by the path of fre edom tread by the people of Poland.”

Though Mr. Romney frequently makes Europe a foil of his domestic stump speech, warning voters that they do not want to head down a path to becoming a “social welfare state,” Mr. Romney praised Poland as an example of a nation on the rise.

“The world should pay close attention to the transformation of Poland's economy,” Mr. Romney said. “A march toward economic liberty and smaller government has meant a march toward higher living standards, a strong military that defends liberty at home and abroad, and an important and growing role on the international stage.”

Poland was the third stop of Mr. Romney's seven-day foreign trip, in which his campaign took to pains to visit countries for which Mr. Romney could express strong support. He started in the United Kingdom, extolling the “special relationship” between the two countries, moved onto Israel, where he expressed his belief that the country has a right to defend itself against the threat of a nuclear Iran, and finished up Tuesday in Poland.

“I believe it is critical to stand by those who have stood by America,” Mr. Romney said. “Solidarity was a great movement that freed a nation. And it is with solidarity that America and Poland face the future.”

Mr. Romney also used his speech in Poland to pay his respect to Pope John Paul II, a likely appeal to Catholic voters back in the United States.