Poland’s opposition leader calls for EU negotiations amid elections
A year before Poland’s general election, the country’s main opposition leader suggested that countries led by nationalist parties could open negotiations to leave the European Union to pressure it to return powers to member states, reports BritPanorama.
“The European Union must be changed. This is my deep conviction, shared by my party and, I believe, very many Poles,” Jarosław Kaczyński, the leader of the national-conservative Law and Justice, said Wednesday at an economic forum in southern Poland.
Kaczyński noted that EU institutions, particularly the European Commission, have excessive influence over member states. He proposed that upcoming elections in France and Spain, where far-right politicians are anticipated to gain power, could provide an opportunity to initiate discussions for reform.
Among his proposals for change was the idea of having national parliamentarians monitor how often EU bodies breach EU law. However, he raised a more contentious option: countries seeking reform might negotiate a new treaty while also commencing withdrawal discussions from the EU. This, he argued, could serve as leverage with other EU nations and institutions.
His comments prompted significant backlash from senior government figures in Poland. Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a pro-European leader, criticized Kaczyński, stating, “Jarosław Kaczyński has just announced that Poland should begin negotiations on the conditions of leaving the European Union,” according to a post on X.
Kaczyński countered accusations of misrepresentation, claiming, “We want the union to benefit not the elites, but the ordinary citizens.” His remarks come as Poland has become a crucial player on NATO’s eastern flank and a key supporter of Ukraine, underscoring its strategic significance in recent years.
Having previously led the country between 2015 and 2023, Kaczyński’s party has been at the center of major disputes with EU institutions concerning the rule of law and human rights.
As the general elections approach, polls suggest that Kaczyński could regain power, especially if he forges alliances with rising far-right groups in Poland.
Kaczyński claimed that his vision for EU reform aims to enhance citizens’ living standards, reduce energy costs, bolster security, adopt a responsible migration policy, and implement an ambitious economic and agricultural agenda, all while minimizing bureaucracy.
Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski remarked that Kaczyński’s comments should enlighten Polish voters about the potential repercussions of supporting far-right factions. “I thank Jarosław Kaczyński for his honesty,” Sikorski said.
