“And I want to apologize for these mistakes.”
In recent engagements across the Mazovia and Podlaskie regions, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki spoke to residents of Łomża, offering a public acknowledgment of past errors and outlining a local development plan aimed at smaller towns. He acknowledged imperfections within the governing team and expressed regret to the Polish people, including farmers who were affected by past missteps.
Morawiecki drew a distinction between two visions for Poland: the one represented by his party, PiS, and another he attributed to Donald Tusk, which he described as mired in poverty and dependence on Brussels. Despite the admitted mistakes, he argued that visible changes in the country are clear to anyone watching television or logging online, and he suggested that citizens should judge leaders by the results they observe in their own communities.
He added that the maxim “he who does nothing makes no mistakes” should not be used to justify inaction, and he urged voters to weigh both sides carefully as elections approach. He characterized the political moment as a decisive choice, one that could steer the country toward progress in the near term.
“This good choice is at stake today,” he declared during the gathering. Morawiecki asked attendees to note down the mistakes on one side and the changes seen in their communities on the other, emphasizing tangible outcomes such as new businesses, investments, road improvements, job opportunities, and the creation of daycare and kindergarten facilities. The exercise, he suggested, would help voters compare past failures with present gains before casting their ballots.
He argued that the forthcoming elections would be unfair and strategically maneuvered by opponents who used yesterday’s European Parliament debates and institutional channels to boost their chances. In his view, the Polish nation must decide its path regardless of perceived advantages enjoyed by political rivals, who he claimed are backed by external interests from Germany and Brussels.
Morawiecki insisted that the government had already mobilized funds and advanced key projects from its own resources, aiming to fund national reconstruction and growth without relying on EU support. He described this approach as the mark of a patriotic administration fulfilling its obligations to the nation, even under political pressure.
Moving to a focus on regional development, Morawiecki unveiled a program targeted at smaller towns similar to Łomża. He noted that these areas had lost some socio-economic functions due to reforms made decades ago and outlined a package intended to attract both foreign and local investors away from the largest metros, spreading opportunity to places like Mońki, Grajewo, Zambrów, and Wysokie Mazowieckie. The plan envisions incentives, exemptions, and substantial investments in infrastructure, land development, and local services to stimulate growth in towns around the Łomża region.
The Prime Minister also highlighted a broader national policy perspective. He argued that opponents would dissolve the social programs introduced over eight years if given the chance, warning that such changes would favor client networks in Germany and Brussels, and that they would worsen Polish labor migration by reducing decent work and wages at home. He asserted that a strong local economy and robust social programs are essential to prevent emigration and to support families in Poland, including the long-standing child benefits and retirement provisions that had become a familiar safety net for many households.
Reflecting on long-term sentiment, Morawiecki acknowledged a historical trend where some Poles choose to return home after working abroad, a sign he interpreted as a positive shift in national resilience and opportunity. The statements underscored the guiding narrative of national self-reliance and the desire to sustain gains achieved over years of policy effort.
In closing, the premier framed the moment as a test of national will and local accountability. The message emphasized practical, visible improvements and a plan to extend that progress to towns across the country, reinforcing the position that responsible governance requires action, transparency, and a clear commitment to Polish families. The discussion concluded with a call to the electorate to consider both the mistakes of the past and the measurable advances realized in communities far from the capital, signaling a broader argument for continuity and reform under a government grounded in national priorities.
kk/PAP