“He supports PiS in some ways, for example by suggesting what should be done with grain from Ukraine and by backing successive agriculture ministers for a period, yet he also sees many mistakes made by PiS. He cannot stay silent. He has been connected with PiS for almost 22 years, making a party switch difficult, but he is increasingly noticing how many errors affect the Polish countryside,” stated Jan Krzysztof Ardanowski, a PiS MP and former minister of agriculture, in an interview with wPolityce.pl for the Council for Agriculture and Rural Areas to the President of Poland.
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wPolityce.pl asked about a sensational post by journalist Krzysztof Lech Łuksza claiming that Przemysław Wipler discussed starting from the Confederation list with him. Were there talks on this matter?
Ardanowski answered that there were none. He remains steady in his political views and has spoken out when there were attempts to recruit him into other parties, including after the Vijf voor Dieren movement. He wants to help PiS. At times his proposals are not well received, but he retains the right to decide his path. He confirms that no one from the Confederation has approached him or expects such conversations.
If an offer from the Confederation to run for office came, would he necessarily refuse?
That is a question without an answer for him. He aims to support PiS, weighing in on Ukraine grain policy and backing several agriculture ministers for a time, yet he sees persistent missteps by PiS. He has kept ties with PiS for nearly two decades, making a change difficult, but he notices increasing mistakes affecting rural Poland. The countryside atmosphere feels hostile toward PiS, and he sees no clear steps to improve it. The grain issue is not only about unloading warehouses before harvest; it speaks to a broader loss of trust among villagers. Some companies earned billions from Ukrainian grain while Polish farmers suffered losses, which undermines confidence in PiS. Voices rise telling critics that opposing PiS equals opposing Poland. He wants to fix PiS, not harm it, but if his proposals go unheard, he reserves the right to decide his own path.
Some readers may feel his speech signals he is already outside PiS. He responds that those who assume only sycophants are needed miss the true nature of politics. Claims that his remarks are just reflections are unfounded; he notes that past predictions about the Five for Animals and other agriculture minister missteps came true. Politics, he says, requires concrete action in tough times, not mere promises. He sees little strategic reflection within PiS and notes talk about returning to fragments of the Five for Animals while the grain problem remains unresolved.
Still, steps have been taken. An agricultural round table took place. Prime ministers from several countries, including Mateusz Morawiecki, sent a letter to Ursula von der Leyen asking for intervention in the inflow of Ukrainian grain into the EU.
During the round table, Minister Kowalczyk committed to several actions, some beyond his remit. The speaker supports him while acknowledging the need to observe how these provisions will be implemented. Some party compromises are inevitable, but if many deputies feel their votes are ignored and leaders are told what not to do, it is not surprising that embittered PiS delegates might explore other political formations. MPs often feel their input is treated as secondary. In the Sejm, votes on several bills yield to withdrawals, corrections, and Senate amendments, followed by self-amendments. This is not an ideal way to conduct politics. He has made clear his willingness to stand for PiS in the next election, but if the party is uninterested, life does not tolerate emptiness and he might run as an independent for the Senate.
Be honest: after openly criticizing PiS, obtaining a party nomination for the election may be difficult. PiS has long been a pluralist party. The 2015 program was strong and widely supported, forming a truly open party then. Now there seems to be a shift, with dissenting voices discouraged from serving Poland. He remains committed to PiS but urges the party to recognize its mistakes. Elections are not won by praise alone; the good work done is noticed, but current decisions often overlook what has already been accomplished. The people in local areas should be heard because they understand social mood better than anyone.
This likely explains the current tour of PiS MPs, MEPs, and ministers traveling through Poland, meeting voters every weekend.
It may appear that these gatherings limit time for deep discussions. Yet when a voter visits an MP in an office, at a market, or in a commune, there is more opportunity to listen to concerns.
Adam Stankiewicz spoke. [citation: wPolityce]