“The Civic Platform started the decline of mining. Before Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa, bullets were the argument. Miners were shot at, they were doused with water despite the frost. Yet there were no talks,” said PiS deputy Grzegorz Matusiak in an interview with wPolityce.pl.
Tusk: Our aim is to extract Polish coal
During a gathering of the parliamentary club of the Citizens’ Coalition, Donald Tusk and other party members are visiting Silesia. On today’s stop in Katowice, the chairman of the PO stated:
We intend to mine Polish coal, and this stance does not conflict with the goal of energy transformation. Silesia can and will be an industrial powerhouse. Coal will be mined in Silesian mines while the dream of a green Silesia, offering affordable energy and becoming a scientific hub, is realized for younger generations of Silesians.
“The PO chairman roams about with a magic wand, but it stays on paper.”
What connection exist between such remarks and the PO-PSL government actions from 2007 to 2015, including events preceding JSW? How do these statements align with oppositional calls to abandon coal, close mines, and speed up energy transformation? These questions were posed to PiS MP Grzegorz Matusiak. Before entering politics, he worked at the Zofiówka coal mine. In 2015, he supported miners protesting for JSW, and on February 23 of this year, he filed a lawsuit against Donald Tusk, accusing him of lying about the events of the JSW protests, where Tusk said no miners were injured by police action.
He could mine coal when he was prime minister and later head of the European Council. He held the power to influence these matters, yet today in opposition, many claim miracles are possible. In Matusiak’s view, Donald Tusk is not a trustworthy figure to rely on.
emphasizes Matusiak.
He also recalled a pledge made before elections not to raise the retirement age, a pledge that was later adjusted. Under Tusk’s governance Poland faced high unemployment, and while he used to say he did not possess a wand, today he is said to roam with one, though the reality appears to be far from magical.
– adds the PiS MP.
“Before JSW, the PO’s ‘argument’ was bullets”
Will Donald Tusk manage to win over the miners despite the February 2015 events?
The Civic Platform initially damaged mining. Before Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa, bullets were used as the argument. Miners faced gunfire and were doused with water in freezing conditions. Yet there were no talks,
– says Grzegorz Matusiak.
Even in tough times, there is room for dialogue with workers. These conversations can be difficult and disagreements persist, but there is a sense of finding common ground, according to our interlocutor.
The party claims to travel across Poland speaking with Poles, with results to be laid out in the election manifesto. They describe themselves as credible, promising a safer, more peaceful life for citizens if trusted to keep their word.
– underlined.
“Trzaskowski believed Turów should be closed”
The PO leader today argues that extracting Polish coal does not oppose the energy transformation. Yet does this align with statements by other opposition figures who advocate accelerating the transformation and stepping away from coal?
Poland currently faces geopolitical tensions with the eastern border. Putin has declared an energy war on Europe, and hydrocarbons have become expensive again. Europe has become more dependent on Russian supplies, with consequences that are still unfolding,
– indicates the PiS MP.
The government has been careful, especially in decisions required by Brussels. A reminder: one opposition leader, Rafał Trzaskowski, believed Turów should be closed to afford higher energy prices. Yet it remains clear that reliability among his allies is in question.
concludes Matusiak.