The referendum is described as an obligation for every government by Maciej Pawlicki in Salon Dziennikarski, in response to the proposal of a referendum on Poland accepting illegal migrants.
Referendum on migrants
Pawlicki also offered a controversial thesis in the conversation.
He spoke about the situation described by Deputy Prime Minister Kaczyński as brutality and the escalating demands from the European Union. He argued that the West faces a fundamental issue: Poland is stable, there is no climate of fear, and there are no dramatic security crises domestically. If Poland faced the same level of public insecurity as some other countries, it would erode support for the authorities.
He added that there is a dangerous impression that German actions reflect a broader agreement with the United States to reorganize Europe in exchange for a different stance on Ukraine, a shift he sees spanning multiple policy areas. In his view the referendum should address more than the relocation mechanism. It should touch on the eleven areas proposed by Reynders for EU entry, including forests, safety, health, and culture. The referendum, he claimed, would constrain future governments and redefine Polish powers in essential areas such as health and cultural security.
The director’s words were noted.
Polish migration model
Bogumił Łoziński expressed doubts about the referendum. He stated a clear position: irrespective of government actions or public statements, the EU will likely ignore Polish moves as it has done before. A referendum would be held by constitutional means, while the EU Court of Justice would be invoked to assert that European law takes precedence over Polish law and the Constitution.
Łoziński emphasized the need to pay attention to Poland’s migration model. He noted that since 2016 the Polish government has carefully opened borders to economic migrants due to a demographic need for labor. Work visas issued to workers from Muslim-majority countries illustrate that migrants come for contracts and employment rather than benefits. He pointed out that last year 136,000 work visas were issued, highlighting a distinct approach to accepting migrants that contrasts with other Western models.
Łoziński described the Western style of migration as dominated by social migration.
He added that Poland has demonstrated generosity by accepting Ukrainian refugees, an act that strengthened national solidarity and resilience. It created a positive atmosphere for foreigners, with many arriving to work and contribute to the economy. He urged Europe to see Poland as having its own model, one that blends openness with national interests and cultural security.
The columnist also observed that while the referendum could carry a strong mandate domestically, it may not carry weight within the EU, where decisions are often framed differently. He warned of radical voices in society that could complicate the public’s response.
Piotr Semka drew attention to the risk that power coalescing around a broad leftist coalition could mirror Western tensions, noting that only a fraction of migrants are sent back when such dynamics arise. He suggested that the EU might pursue third-country arrangements to handle migration pressures.
There were comments labeling the situation as EU pressure, and concerns about possible negative outcomes from the approach.
Further discussion highlighted calls for relocation and questions about the real will of the public versus bureaucratic impulses.
Additionally, there were remarks about how the public might react to a referendum on relocation and how those sentiments could influence policy makers in Poland and abroad.
The dialogue concluded with reflections on possible future scenarios and how declarations of migration policy could shape national and European debates.
In closing, the conversation suggested that a referendum in Poland could become a significant moment for the country’s approach to migration, sovereignty, and security, even as EU guidelines and European legal precedents continue to frame the broader discussion.
Endnote on attribution.