In Sosnowiec, during a session with Campus Academy participants, Donald Tusk focused his remarks on the Confederation and its political trajectory. The leader of the Civic Platform repeatedly asserted that the grouping co-founded by Sławomir Mentzen would align with PiS. The response from the other side did not take long to arrive.
The occasion featured Tusk carrying a copy of Timothy Snyder’s Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. While discussing Lesson 17, Listen to Dangerous Words, he drew connections between the Confederation’s platform and prospective government arrangements that could arise if PiS and the Confederation won a majority.
He outlined a hypothetical program in which the Confederation advocates Poland without gays, Poland without Jews, Poland without taxes, Poland without abortion, and Poland outside the European Union. He suggested that close ties between some PiS leaders and the Confederation would illuminate impending policy directions.
“If these people rule our homeland, there will be no place in Poland for a woman who seeks her rights and independence, nor for other sexual orientations,” he stated.
According to Tusk, the official agenda of a party described as being close to PiS and Kaczyński would include taking Poland out of the European Union without delays.
The questions lingered publicly: is Ziobro or Kaczyński truly distinct from these forces, or is the line of thought already shared in some fashion across the coalition?
He emphasized that leaving the European Union could be decided within Poland without a nationwide referendum. “In Poland, approvals do not hinge on the majority of voters, but on the majority in the Sejm,” he asserted.
With a clear message, he warned that if the Confederation and PiS were to govern after the next election, Poland might face the final years of its presence in the European Union. Uncertainty about political futures in the United States, various European allies, and the eastern border could lead to long-term geopolitical instability.
Mentzen’s response, however, offered a stark contrast to Tusk’s concerns. In a message that drew attention for its blunt language, Sławomir Mentzen indicated a path to a double-digit electoral result and quipped that Tusk could go elsewhere while Morawiecki could kiss him.
Despite the provocative tone of Mentzen’s reply, many observers noted that the exchange underscored the depth of disagreement over Poland’s future direction and the potential alliances in the political landscape.
The remarks by both sides were described as revealing about the current rhetorical climate surrounding the Confederation and its ties to PiS. Proponents of the Confederation argued that the party’s platform reflected a shift toward national sovereignty and tax reform, while opponents warned of policies that could marginalize minorities and distance Poland from European institutions.
The overall debate illustrated a period of heightened political tension as Poland approached a pivotal electoral moment. Analysts observed that the confrontation between Tusk’s coalition and the Confederation would shape public discourse and influence voter perception of Poland’s role within the European Union and the transatlantic alliance.