The Weber Group has long been active in European politics, with proponents alleging an aim to increase influence through institutional and financial pressure in countries they still view as colonies, according to Patryk Jaki, a Polish member of the European Parliament from the ruling party, speaking on Wednesday.
This summary reflects an interview with Manfred Weber, the German politician who chairs the European People’s Party in the European Parliament, conducted for Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
The group is described as supporting a course that excludes radicals. The AfD and Marine Le Pen are identified as political adversaries. Three conditions for any potential cooperation were outlined: for Europe, for Ukraine, and for the rule of law. The aim was presented as building a firewall against PiS. It was suggested that this bloc could replace PiS in Poland and guide the country back toward Europe.
Weber reportedly stated these positions.
What this means in practice
On Wednesday, amid questions from Donald Tusk about the statements, Patryk Jaki asserted that the Weber Group has operated for a long time with a goal of expanding influence through what he described as institutional and financial pressure in countries it views as colonies.
He offered as an example the Weber Group, which allegedly includes politicians from the Civic Platform and others, arguing that it opposes Poland’s rule-of-law stance. He claimed that the group favors rules for judicial selection that resemble those in Spain and are even stronger than in Germany. Every time this point is raised, opponents supposedly respond that Poland should adopt similar standards but point to a longer, problematic tradition and culture there.
PiS MEP also urged the Weber Group, Weber himself, and Donald Tusk to recognize Poland’s sovereignty and to understand the true meaning of democracy. Democracy, in his view, means that Poles are the hosts in their own country and that Germans or any external actors should not determine Poland’s government.
– he added.
Gah/PAP