The Polish official takes full responsibility for Michał Kołodziejczak’s theses; if she includes them on her lists, it signals clear agreement. This stance marks a strong signal that the government is contemplating another reset with Russia, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Paweł Jabłoński.
The debate about Michał Kołodziejczak began after Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki released a Sunday recording. The material contains statements by the Agrounia leader from years past, including criticisms of the United States for clashing with Russia. The prime minister underscored that Poland’s alliance with the United States remains the foundation of its security. Kołodziejczak is a candidate for the Sejm on the Civic Platform ticket.
Comments on the United States
Jabłoński was asked by the Polish Press Agency whether Kołodziejczak’s past remarks could influence Polish–American relations or whether they should be viewed as part of the electoral campaign.
Such issues attract global attention. Today, Michał Kołodziejczak stands as one of the leaders of the Civic Coalition, effectively within the Civic Platform, because it is (Donald) Tusk who promotes him, Jabłoński explained.
He emphasized that the Platform bears full responsibility for Kołodziejczak’s theses. If Kołodziejczak appears on their list, it implies endorsement. Unfortunately, if there is a program signaling a hard line against the Americans and a push to reset relations with Russia, that would be interpreted as a strong signal that the PO is considering another reset with Russia, as it has done in the past, according to the deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Noting that the material is an archival fragment and not an official KO position, the deputy head of the Foreign Ministry added that Kołodziejczak’s views date back to 2019 and do not reflect the current stance of the coalition.
Kołodziejczak had previously been associated with a pro-Russian position and with actions that, in the view of some, destabilized the security environment in Poland. It is recalled that in February 2022 he was linked to a false claim about fuel prices and posted manipulated images from gas stations. The aim, observers argued, was to incite panic and serve Russian interests, leading to Kołodziejczak’s inclusion on the PO list, according to Jabłoński.
Prime Minister Morawiecki referenced the incident in the context of the ongoing discussion, noting that during times of political struggle, phrases once used against critics could echo through the public discourse. He stressed that Poland’s alliance with the United States remains the bedrock of national security, underscoring two pillars of that alliance: economic cooperation and defense collaboration.
Kołodziejczak responded on social media, asserting that the state apparatus had launched a broad attack against him and signaling that Morawiecki feared a loss of power should Agrounia work more closely with the main opposition. He asserted that Poles are capable of recognizing political dirty tactics and that the stakes in this election go beyond personal rivalry, touching on the country’s direction and unity.
In a subsequent post, Kołodziejczak clarified that his earlier statement, recalled by Morawiecki, dated from five years ago. He argued that today Poland stands stronger when it cooperates with both the United States and the European Union, while accusing Morawiecki of weakening Poland’s standing on the international stage. He also shared a photo with the United States Ambassador during Independence Day celebrations in 2023, underscoring his ongoing ties with allied partners.
Gah/PAP
Source: wPolityce