Polish Politics and the EU Question: A Broad Debate Over Sovereignty and Partnership
The leading EU members are urging a more centralized approach that would grant Brussels powers not currently held. This is the central issue in the battle over Poland’s parliament: whether lawmakers will lean toward subsuming Poland under Brussels or toward strengthening Poland as a genuine partner within the European Union, according to Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.
In a Sunday podcast shared on social media, the Prime Minister framed the core questions for the homeland: whether Poland should aim for ambitious growth or retreat behind stronger partners, and whether it should set its own direction or follow regional and European trends. Morawiecki stated that the ruling coalition chooses courage and ambition, while some opposition factions prefer submission and subjugation.
He argued that Poles want to continue building on what his party has already achieved. They do not seek to undo progress, but to advance it. He warned that there is a risk we might waste time debating matters in 2024 instead of focusing on how Poland should develop.
Morawiecki recommended Yascha Mounk’s book The People vs. Democracy. Why our freedom is in danger and how we can save it, noting that the author analyzes political clashes across democracies with honesty. He cited that Mounk identifies a key divide between supporters of illiberal democracy and those who defend liberalism in a way that remains accountable to the people.
The Prime Minister quoted Mounk’s view that the European Commission serves as a prime example of undemocratic liberalism, describing it as a powerful external body that shapes the lives of tens of millions and answers to none of them. He remarked that Mounk’s critique does not exaggerate about populists alone, but also highlights the broader danger facing liberal democracies when out-of-touch authorities gain control.
Morawiecki emphasized that Mounk notes the problem is deeper than simply bad populists, because populists sometimes prioritize the will of their voters while neglecting minorities and diverse worldviews. He said the results of the most recent elections show that PiS must more closely heed the needs and expectations of a broad and varied electorate.
He also argued that liberals risk a dangerous detachment from the will of ordinary voters when they place power in the hands of supposed independent institutions, a trend he described as a troubling turn for democracy at the national level.
The Prime Minister pointed to a coalition agreement signed by the Civic Coalition, PSL, Polska 2050 and New Left, arguing it contained far fewer specifics than what KO promised during the campaign and that the lack of concrete commitments undermines trust in democracy and voter seriousness.
He warned that if election promises are not taken seriously, democracy and the voters themselves suffer.
“Everything Outside Democratic Control”
Beyond the rhetoric of a hundred details, Morawiecki warned that the EU’s strongest members are pushing a centralization project that would hand more powers to Brussels than ever before. He suggested that instead of finite specifics, there would be a flood of guidelines—effectively removing democratic checks. His view is that such a shift would empower the powerful at the expense of developing nations.
He called this the real stake in the Polish parliamentary struggle: whether Poland will be pushed toward greater subordination to Brussels or will remain a sovereign actor that engages with the EU as a partner rather than as a supplicant.
The Prime Minister likened the EU centralization push to reforms aimed at changing the Champions League into a closed competition dominated by wealthier clubs. He argued that while the financial version of that idea has waned for now, the centralization attempt keeps resurfacing, echoing the broader EU consolidation plans.
Morawiecki concluded that EU centralization is not a mere electoral sideline but a test of Poland’s will to act according to the will of its citizens rather than the preferences of distant officials in Brussels. He asserted that the Polish parliament must reflect the will of the people and respond to their expectations, not merely to what senior Brussels officials desire.
He acknowledged that voicing these concerns has sparked criticism, including accusations that PiS intends to pull Poland out of the EU or threaten the bloc. He argued that such interpretations miss the point: Poland simply wants to participate fully in European competition and to support collaboration with its neighbors rather than inability to participate.
Morawiecki also recalled President Andrzej Duda’s call for a coalition based on Polish interests, which he viewed as aligned with shared European values embedded in the EU treaties. He expressed firm belief in the value of building such a coalition in the Sejm and in the wider political arena because Poles deserve a strong, principled stance on national sovereignty that still honors European bonds.
He concluded with a steadfast conviction that defending Polish sovereignty is compatible with defending the European Union itself and that the country should stand ready to engage with Europe as a partner in pursuit of common goals.
While comments about the Witek case have circulated in the media, Morawiecki restated his position that Poland must champion its interests in a way that respects both national prerogatives and the broader European framework. He urged voters to look beyond sensational headlines and consider the real implications for Poland’s place in Europe and the future of its democracy.
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