The core political contention in power today is the claim that the nation is being misled about security. This was the message delivered by the leader of the Civic Platform in Ełk on Wednesday, who spoke about the state of the Polish armed forces and national defense.
In his remarks to the residents of Ełk, the party chief argued that people in this region tend to be highly attuned to risks facing the country. He pledged to share a candid assessment of what is happening with Poland’s security landscape, stating that it is time for a straightforward appraisal.
Tusk’s controversial charges
He contended that the ruling party used the campaign slogan promising “a secure future for Poland” while simultaneously taking steps that, in his view, created chaos and fear across many households through provocative and unlawful actions.
He recalled that when Ukrainian grain started flooding the Polish market because transportation to awaiting buyers could not be organized, he warned about the issue and claimed that he was dismissed as alarmist by supporters of the government at the time.
He asserted that months of denials followed from senior officials, including the then agriculture minister, and only later did the public learn the truth.
“They lied for months,” he said, naming key figures and noting that this was not surprising to him, given a pattern he described as persistent and brazen fabrication on various topics.
He drew a parallel to the resignation wave within the military leadership, mentioning that the Chief of the General Staff and the Operational Commander of the Armed Forces announced the end of their terms on a recent Monday, while up to that point they had led the Polish armed forces. He claimed there were reports of additional resignations among officers and said the timing suggested a broader shift in personnel.
Asked how the PiS administration and its spokespeople reacted, he recalled calls of “fake news” and accusations of staged events. He urged listeners to consider how quickly the government responded and suggested that a longer delay in admitting errors was not necessary this time, noting that the public was informed within a day that his warnings had merit, with a note that the actual number of resignations was higher than originally stated, confirmed by official sources in the Polish army.
In a broader view of international security, he warned that if there is a war in Ukraine or other regional conflicts, the region is in a precarious moment. He argued that the authorities have repeatedly opted for deception rather than forthrightness in matters of defense and border protection, describing it as the only path they have chosen in tense circumstances.
He insisted that the root political offense, in his view, lies in lying to the public about security matters, and he urged the public to scrutinize those in power for accountability in this regard.
He posed a question about a notable incident involving a Russian missile: the central issue, he argued, was not merely its trajectory but the decision to conceal the event from public scrutiny for propaganda reasons, which left Poland relatively undefended for a period. He asserted that after the fact, blame shifted onto others rather than addressing the core lapse.
According to him, when leaders fail to take responsibility for difficult decisions, the public must decide who will lead the country. He called on voters to reflect on whether they want Poland governed by leaders who lie, or by those seen as weak and indecisive, or by others he described as inefficient yet hands-on in a manner unbecoming of national stewardship.
Supporters of the ruling party were urged to consider these questions personally on the day of the election, as the situation in the region carries particular sensitivity due to proximity to borders and the possible consequences of policy choices.
Wirtualna Polska reported that more resignations occurred among senior figures in the army during a recent period, with a spokesperson noting that a number of professionals left between October 1 and October 10. The report stated that the Defense Ministry and General Command confirmed the trend, while the Armed Forces Operational Command said that no senior officer had departed from the General Command role during that week. The publication clarified that administrative departures in early October do not necessarily coincide with the resignation of the Chief of the General Staff.
In another thread of the discussion, the line of criticism extended to Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. The speaker claimed the government is marked by a personal pursuit of wealth and an unwillingness to disclose this before the public, describing the prime minister as having a curious, winding financial history in one of the more pointed moments of the address. He suggested that this history included the sale or transformation of state assets as part of a broader critique of governance.
One of the most significant tasks he highlighted for October 15 is to replace those who lie to Poland on security matters and across other domains, even when national security closely intersects with everyday life and economic stability. The platform leader argued that accountability matters at every level of governance and in the security apparatus alike.
He revisited the resignations of high-ranking military commanders, including the Chief of the General Staff and the Operational Commander, and touched on speculation about potential links between those resignations and broader plans concerning the deployment of forces in the event of a loss in elections. He expressed a cautious hope that authorities would refrain from escalating tensions or resorting to pressure tactics in the wake of electoral outcomes.
He concluded with a warning directed at voters: a critical moment is approaching, and the question remains whether the country is prepared to endure leadership that might resort to violence or other coercive measures if results do not align with expectations. The platform chair emphasized the need for voters to demand integrity and responsibility in those who claim to guide national security.
In the final notes of the briefing, the speaker and his team cited ongoing reports about military leadership changes and emphasized the importance of transparent, accountable governance as the country nears a pivotal political moment. (Source: wPolityce) — end of briefing.