When PiS took over the government, the air defense system didn’t exist yet, you didn’t make any purchases in this area. Since 2015, we have provided the soldiers with the Patriot system, Mała Narew system, Piorun and Pilica systems, the Ministry of National Defense stressed in response to the words of Tomasz Siemoniak (KO).
During Thursday’s press conference, former head of the Ministry of National Defense Tomasz Siemoniak said, among other things: about the fact that Civic Platform has been advocating for years for the priority of expanding missile defense.
In April 2015, the government of Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz decided to purchase eight Patriot batteries, there are relevant documents. Thanks to PiS Minister (Antoni) Macierewicz, this case was postponed for many years. No Polish Patriot batteries are in use so far, so we have to rely on our allies
said Simoniak.
MON corresponds to Siemoniak
The Ministry of National Defense referred to the words of the KO politician on Twitter.
Mr. Tomasz Siemoniak, to put your words straight: when PiS took over the government, the anti-aircraft system did not yet exist. You have not made any purchases in this area
wrote the Defense Department.
Since 2015, we have provided soldiers with Patriot system, Mała Narew system, Piorun sets and Pilica sets
– emphasized the Ministry of National Defense.
Siemoniak attacks Blaszczak and Macierewicz
In response, Siemoniak posted on Twitter a photo of the arrival of the Deputy Prime Minister, Head of the Ministry of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak from October 14, 2022.
“We built a multi-layered air defense system. We have Pioruns, Pilica sets, small Narew and Patriots. Thanks to the efforts of the PiS government, our air is safe. We do not have to join the programs proposed by Germany, which are based on building a less advanced system.
– Blaszczak emphasized at the time.
I ask for information about the multi-layer air defense system “built” by Minister Błaszczak
– wrote Siemoniak, adding that this is – in his opinion – a “compromising untruth”.
At the conference, I spoke about the April 2015 decision of the Council of Ministers to purchase 8 Patriot batteries – would you rectify this? It’s easy to check what it was like and what happened next. In June 2023, not a single Polish Patriot battery is in service
– He wrote.
According to Siemoniak, “The air defense system existed in 2015, of course, but was in need of a radical modernization.”
Hence, our decisions have been preceded by several years of complex preparations. These are matters of several tens of billion zlotys and decades of obligations. 8 years were not enough to buy 8 Patriot batteries, Macierewicz wasted at least a few years and the current minister has not fully repaired it
said Simoniak.
The truth hurts? Apparently given the nervous reaction of the deputy head of the PO after a short but clear entry from Defense.
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olnk/PAP/Twitter/wPolityce.pl
Source: wPolityce
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.