A Polish MEP from the ruling coalition, Dominik Tarczynski, spoke to a Polish politics site, insisting that Poland will not shoulder the mistakes of other EU nations or be swayed by emotional pressure. He argued that Polish families and the country’s security must come first, and dismissed the notion that Poland should pay for the missteps of others.
Referendum questions
Starting Friday, August 11, the ruling party will unveil additional referendum questions. The first question, proposed by Jarosław Kaczyński, the deputy prime minister and leader of the party, asks:
Do you support the sale of state-owned enterprises?
The second question, disclosed the day before by Beata Szydło, a former prime minister and MEP for the party in 2019, asks:
Are you in favor of raising the retirement age to 60 for women and 65 for men?
The third question, provided today by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, concerns illegal migration:
Do you support accepting thousands of illegal immigrants from the Middle East and Africa under a relocation mechanism imposed by Brussels?
“We will not pay for their mistakes”
The wPolityce portal interviewed Tarczynski, a Member of the European Parliament for Law and Justice, to comment on the referendum and its alignment with parliamentary elections planned for October 15, especially in light of today’s migration question.
Tarczynski argued that all these questions center on whether people can feel secure in their own country and decide their own future. He welcomed the third migration question as a necessary focus.
He described the issue as fundamental and essential for the nation to answer, emphasizing that Poland should not be blamed for the policies of other states and that the country will protect its own families and its safety.
Tarczynski asserted that unlike some EU partners, Poland has no colonial past and refuses to take responsibility for other nations’ colonies. He criticized Europe’s migration policy, arguing that it has altered the continent’s historical trajectory and that Poland stands as a last stronghold of its historical Europe and Christian heritage.
The lawmaker added that the question’s resolution will influence future governments, binding them to respect the will of the people.
“The PO program is a TVN program”
Tarczynski suggested that even should the Civic Platform win, it would rethink implementing what Brussels might demand regarding migrants. He expressed doubt that the PO would win, stating that their platform largely mirrors media narratives and lacks a clear vision for the Polish people. The core claim remained that the person who assumes power will ultimately bow to the will of the electorate.
He argued the referendum matters because it signals whether Poland wishes to prevent Western European trends from taking hold at home, aiming for safety over terror and violence. He stressed that whoever comes to power next would be measured by the nation’s expectations.
“PO runs away from citizens’ voices”
The opposition, particularly the Civic Platform, faced criticism for its stance on referendums and the questions themselves. Tarczynski recalled the party’s past strategy, referencing a 2004 initiative linked to single-member constituencies and the so-called “4 X YES” campaign. He noted that the party collected hundreds of thousands of signatures that were later challenged and deemed as exercises by some observers.
Tarczynski argued that the party has shown a tendency to buy into activism rather than listen to the nation, effectively avoiding the voice of citizens, he claimed.
In connection with recent discussions, references to additional topics appeared in coverage about migration and security and the stance of the government. These provide context for ongoing political debates surrounding Poland’s direction ahead of the elections.
Source: wPolityce