Polish officials say they listen to the needs of Polish citizens first. They insist that policy decisions are guided by the will of the people rather than by influence from Berlin or Moscow, a stance echoed by Rafał Bochenek. He also spoke about which voter groups are inclined to favor the programs of the Civic Platform and the Confederation. [citation]
On September 8, Bochenek held a press conference referencing a March 2011 exchange between then Prime Minister Donald Tusk and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The note focused on the EU Competitiveness Pact of that period. Bochenek asserted that Merkel discussed tying a country’s retirement age to its demographic realities during that conversation. [citation]
An external dictate
Bochenek recalled that a law increasing the retirement age was enacted in 2012 and noted broad pushback from Polish society, including protests by labor unions and supporters of the ruling party. [citation]
This contrast marks a shift in policy from the approach seen before 2015 to the current stance of the United Right coalition. The era of decisions influenced by external powers has ended, Bochenek argued. Polish leaders should act in the interests of Polish citizens without yielding to foreign pressure. [citation]
The spokesman for PiS reiterated that the 2012 pension reform involved consultations with German officials. [citation]
Today Poland is governed by a coalition that claims to prioritize the ordinary citizen. The leadership emphasizes listening to public needs and acting in their best interests, rather than following foreign dictates from Berlin or Moscow. [citation]
Bochenek on what the country risks becoming
Bochenek commented on the perception that some opposition voices find common ground between the Civic Platform and the Confederation, arguing that their political program points toward governance favoring an elite few. [citation]
The government spokesperson was asked to respond to remarks made by Jan Grabiec at a press briefing in Warsaw. [citation]
There were discussions about potential coalitions, with Grabiec indicating there were no current plans for a coalition with any party beyond the democratic opposition. He stressed the importance of avoiding any agreement between PiS and the Confederation before elections, while acknowledging uncertainty about future developments. [citation]
Some commentaries have pointed to unconventional ideas within the Confederation, particularly around tax reform. Observers noted that these proposals occasionally drift toward unfeasible or disconnected notions. [citation]
Grabiec was quoted as recognizing that some points in the Civic Platform and Confederation programs appear similar, though he did not view this as a surprise. The PiS spokesman echoed that sentiment. [citation]
The PiS spokesperson suggested that the Confederation advocates would dismantle key social protections, including pensions and public health infrastructure, replacing them with market-based or voucher-style alternatives. [citation]
Bochenek warned that such proposals could erode public services and leave the most vulnerable without support, a pattern he described as favoring a small elite. [citation]
He argued that this trajectory would mark a shift away from public responsibility toward a privatized model, a point he linked to ongoing debates within the opposition. [citation]
When asked about any potential PiS-Cooperation with the Confederation after the election, Bochenek stated that talks were not taking place at the moment. [citation]
There were additional remarks from political commentators about the Civic Platform and other groups, framing the conversation around the risk of political folklore slipping into policy. [citation]
Overall, Bochenek framed the current political discussion around safeguarding national interests and protecting the everyday lives of citizens, while casting doubt on proposals he sees as destabilizing public programs. [citation]