Officials in Poland are debating the political landscape surrounding Donald Tusk, with Olga Semeniuk-Patkowska offering a pointed critique on wPolsce.pl television. Her comments focus on the appointment of a committee addressing Russian influence and she touches on allegations directed at the ruling party, PiS. The current conversation recalls a period in 2010 when the Smolensk tragedy and a government decision related to the Chicago Convention shifted influence toward foreign actors. Semeniuk-Patkowska suggests that this history, entwined with the Civic Platform’s stance, marked a moment when Moscow sympathies were visible from the opposition. She argues that within Law and Justice there is no room to move Tusk out, asserting that rivals have already marginalized him within the Civic Platform. The speaker notes that any political maneuver placing Tusk at the center is a thing of the past, a conclusion drawn from recent intra-party dynamics. The topic resurfaces when addressing Tusk’s initiative to organize a march in Warsaw on June 4, describing it as a hard lesson about how Polish society analyzes and draws conclusions. It is presented as evidence of a disconnect between leadership and public sentiment.
Street and abroad
The public square remains a powerful arena, and there is an expectation that demonstrations will become more frequent and intense. Semeniuk-Patkowska urges civil society groups to stay steadfast and not be consumed by partisan battles. She conveys a sense that a foreign country has lost some of its charm, partly due to the agricultural context and the pressures faced by farmers. She indicates that Brussels has signaled there will be no uniform aid program, that Poland is asserting its interests on behalf of farmers and the broader Polish society. The stance is clear: Poland will protect its citizens and respond swiftly to social and economic harms, a line she says the government must uphold. She contrasts this with Donald Tusk’s long tenure in Brussels, arguing that he has not demonstrated a commitment to Poland’s interests and would not foreground pro-social policy at home. This assessment is framed as part of a broader critique of Tusk’s influence in Polish politics.
Another issue under discussion concerns suspending imports of Ukrainian grain into Poland and aligning national actions with EU law. The response notes ongoing dialogue with the European Commission, while emphasizing the supremacy of national law over European law. The text recalls that the last year featured no unified energy package among member states and no common agricultural package from Brussels. The implementing regulation signed in March obliges the European Commission to pay 30 million euros to Polish farmers, a figure described as insufficient relative to the needs. It is argued that a mechanism allowing front-line countries receiving Ukrainian grain to redirect it to other regions, such as Africa, remains undeveloped. The speaker labels this a global challenge that also affects Europe and stresses that there is no universal remedy. In this light, a three-component shield for farmers was announced by President Jarosław Kaczyński. The message from the government is to prioritize Polish citizens and especially farmers, with hope that Brussels and Member States will resume negotiations on the grain issue, alongside energy and economic concerns that are central to Europe and the world as they navigate ongoing crises.
The deputy minister frames these concerns as essential for safeguarding national interests in an era of interconnected European and global pressures. The discussion is presented as part of a broader effort to maintain resilience in the face of external influence and to ensure that domestic policy remains aligned with the needs of Polish people and agricultural sectors. The narrative closes with a call for continued vigilance and decisive action to address the complex mix of trade, energy, and social policy facing Poland and its partners.
mw/mly/wPolsce.pl