At a gathering in Strzelce Opolskie on Monday, the leader of the Civic Platform urged a straightforward approach. The goal was to assemble the opposition into a single list for the parliamentary elections and to explain the plan to Polish voters in the simplest terms possible.
He called for strength, resolve, and practicality. The emphasis was on core issues that unite most Poles, with a clear campaign strategy to be formed. The speaker stressed the importance of presenting a unified opposition list and communicating its purpose plainly to the public.
During part of his Strzelce Opolskie remarks, the PO leader focused on agriculture and the European Union, arguing that the ruling party had misled farmers in several ways and warned of a lasting threat to their livelihoods. He underscored the central role of EU membership for Polish agriculture.
Today, he remarked, there are explicit signals suggesting plans to remove Poland from the EU.
He warned that Poland could face a future where membership in the European Union is not guaranteed, noting that some officials even flirt with the idea in cautious tones. He criticized what he described as a mindset within the governing party that blocked European funds through stubbornness and poor will, and he pointed to statements proposing leaving the EU if such funds were not available.
Such rhetoric, he said, was alarming and harmful because it comes from influential voices who also block the very European funds they claim to need. He cautioned against fearmongering, yet stressed that his experience with European affairs gives him credibility on these issues. He described the current path as a straightforward drift toward a polexit.
The leader of the PO cited reports from various PiS politicians and affiliates indicating growing openness to direct moves away from the EU.
He argued that those in power are antagonistic toward the foundations of Europe: an independent judiciary, human rights, minority protections, human dignity, cultural diversity, media freedom, and genuine local governance. He asserted that these pillars are the bedrock of Western political civilization, and that the ruling party views them with skepticism.
The stakes in the current elections, he concluded, include whether Poland will remain in the European Union or face a period of isolation similar to times in history. If the current government retains power, he warned, there could be a willingness to abandon EU membership altogether.
The coming years were described as pivotal for Poland for multiple reasons, and the speaker conveyed a deep commitment to shaping the country’s trajectory. He also criticized the government for how it has addressed Ukrainian grain, arguing that shipments pass through Poland to destinations such as Egypt, potentially in unlimited quantities, while the government has not begun substantive talks with Egypt. He claimed that Ukrainian grain operations have been neglected and that farmers were encouraged not to sell grain in hopes of higher prices, followed by a period of open imports that benefited no one but the market’s distortions.
While expressing support for Ukraine, he urged careful, prudent steps in how aid is delivered. He asserted that Polish farmers feel misled by these omissions and warned of the risk of stoking anti-Ukrainian sentiment among them.
Another topic touched upon by the PO leader was personal attacks against him, noting that claims about his grandfather serving in the Wehrmacht were used in political rhetoric at a PiS meeting in Radom. He anticipated further accusations, joking that some might claim he served in the German army at Stalingrad, emphasizing the persistence of hostile political rhetoric.
Electricity promises
The PO leader outlined a vision for Poland to achieve local energy independence. He said that under his plan, communities and districts would produce and manage their own electricity, reducing reliance on centralized systems. He projected that the majority of energy would be generated and sold within local jurisdictions.
He spoke of creating energy‑independent communes and districts, and of enabling local businesses to connect with nearby producers through a resilient grid. He highlighted the potential of privately installed rooftop installations to match the output of several large power plants in the country, suggesting a substantial contribution from individual households and small businesses.
Realizing energy independence, he argued, would depend on permitting, infrastructure upgrades, avoiding monopolies, and supporting a mix of renewable sources such as biogas, wind, and solar at the municipal level. He also touched on the role of nuclear energy as a longer‑term option to diversify the energy mix. He insisted that these measures are not whims but urgent decisions that require immediate action, including guaranteeing that any business seeking grid connection can obtain a straightforward administrative order.
He noted that Russia’s aggression in Ukraine has shown that Poland’s energy security depends on sensible strategies, including geopolitical considerations. He emphasized a need to produce energy with a smaller environmental footprint than current practices and called for accelerated development of clean power sources.
Overall, the speech portrayed a campaign focused on national sovereignty, energy resilience, and a pragmatic approach to EU participation. Critics may view the positions as bold, yet the speaker stressed that his party intends to pursue these goals with careful planning and broad public engagement. The report concludes with attributions to the