Janusz Kowalski, State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, told wPolityce.pl that Donald Tusk’s actions—despite Kremlin acknowledgement of Michał Kołodziejczak and support for his narrative featuring Maria Zacharowa, plus AgroUnia appearing on Civic Platform lists and a plan finally being put in motion—suggest that the Civic Platform sees little to gain from Polish villages.
AgroUnia on the citizen platform lists
The news that AgroUnia would appear on Civic Platform lists electrified public opinion.
“I will invite Michał Kołodziejczak from AgroUnia to the podium. I am pleased to see people from different backgrounds come together; we did not hesitate for a moment”, stated Civic Platform President Donald Tusk at today’s National Council meeting.
Kołodziejczak admitted weighing pros and cons, but ultimately said, “we have the state of emergency.”
“I believe in it and I will do everything: we will win from PiS and reclaim the village for Poland”, he added.
AgroUnia has been a controversial group, frequently clashing with United Right politicians (such as Patryk Jaki). Kołodziejczak has even criticized the PiS government for engaging in disputes with Russia, a stance he voiced at a parliamentary committee meeting. Shortly after Russia’s attack on Ukraine, he spread posts about fuel price changes on social media, which caused concern among Poles. Following a July incident at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, AgroUnia and its supporters publicly discussed relations with Maria Zacharowa and engaged in sharp exchanges with ministry representatives.
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-Prime Minister Morawiecki commented on Tusk’s alliance with Kołodziejczak: “There is a Putin sympathizer on your lists. Who are you serving?”
“Tusk’s plan was obvious”
Deputy Agriculture Minister Janusz Kowalski was asked for comment on Tusk’s alliance with Kołodziejczak. The wPolityce.pl interlocutor noted a striking overlap between the day’s decision and events from late July.
According to Kowalski, Tusk’s plan was clear. He pointed to parliamentary moves on July 27 by Civic Platform senators to block 6.5 billion PLN in aid to Polish farmers in the Senate, an action Kowalski says targeted Polish farmers and aimed to provoke a crisis. Around the same time, AgroUnia supporters reportedly entered the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, led by Kołodziejczak, with other figures accused of animal cruelty by prosecutors, raising questions about who the group actually represents.
Kowalski stated that the aim was to spark a fresh crisis in the countryside, a move he linked to European People’s Party influence and the plan to reopen the Polish market to imports from Ukraine on September 15 for grains and oilseeds.
He asserted that the plan was anticipated and forestalled, citing the thwarting of AgroUnia’s intended occupation of the Ministry and the cabinet of Minister Robert Telus as a setback for the initiative.
The Civic Platform and Kołodziejczak were said to have sought television moments to garner international attention, allowing Kremlin-linked narratives and foreign media to frame the ministry’s actions in a particular light, Kowalski contended.
What has Kołodziejczak led to?
Kowalski argued that Kołodziejczak blocked crucial discussions between Minister Telus and Ukraine’s agriculture minister about reopening the poultry market, which Kowalski flagged as a significant missed opportunity.
He noted that the timing of Kołodziejczak’s moves, observed by many, aligned with Trump-like narratives of alliance and influence, leading him to emphasize the perception of coordinated actions between Tusk and Kołodziejczak.
In the current context, Kowalski contends that the alliance signs a pattern of Russian-leaning influence within civic politics.
He also highlighted a list of individuals on Civic Platform rosters, including figures once linked to security services, and argued that the party’s direction traced back to historical ties with Soviet-era authorities.
“This shows where Civic Platform stands today,” Kowalski concluded, describing the party as entangled with distant and lingering influences.
“PO already knows that there is nothing to look for in the Polish countryside”
Kowalski suggested that Tusk’s outreach to AgroUnia, despite Kremlin signals through Kołodziejczak, signifies a concluded plan. He argued that the party’s agro-clubs did not deliver and that farmers would not tolerate attempts to seize 6.5 billion PLN slated for rural support. He also warned that a broader European effort to open the Polish market to imports from Ukraine would continue on September 15, led by Manfred Weber’s group.
From Kowalski’s perspective, the current situation is a political move aimed at destabilizing Polish agriculture. He urged resilience, asserting that the government would defend farmers and win the elections.
Endnotes
The discussion covered ongoing disagreements at the agricultural ministry, the role of AgroUnia, and questions about foreign influence in domestic politics. Kowalski emphasized the importance of safeguarding Poland’s agricultural sector against external pressure while navigating a busy political landscape.