Beata Szydło, a former prime minister and a prominent PiS member, characterized Tusk’s mission as aimed at destroying PiS, intimidating supporters, and advancing a plan aligned with Brussels elites. She spoke these views during an interview on Telewizja wPolsce24, where the conversation touched on a controversial Russian spy case and the treatment of public figures connected to the Independence March movement.
In the program Magazyn 24 on Telewizja wPolsce24, editor Aleksandra Jakubowska spoke with the former PiS prime minister about the case of a Russian intelligence operative known as Pablo Gonzalez, also identified as Paweł Rubcow. The discussion also covered the perceived repression of Robert Bąkiewicz and the Independence March Association by those in power.
Szydło: Where is the Polish state?
Viewers may wonder about who governs the country and how security is safeguarded. The question arises: where is the Polish state in its current form? Szydło argued that a Russian spy with full access to trial materials and even confidential information appears to have access to explanations from the prosecutor’s office that suggested limited alternatives were considered, which she found troubling.
She questioned whether Poland is truly safe under the present leadership and whether those in charge are prioritizing national security. The prime minister, she noted, had not spoken publicly on the matter, and the service coordinator had remained silent, deepening concerns about the situation. According to her, many Poles wonder if the current government can maintain control, or if there is a hidden agenda driving events. She called for clarification from leadership on the issue and urged transparency from the highest levels of government.
– she added.
Ordinary people harassed by the government
Jakubowska pressed the former prime minister on whether non-governmental organizations and ordinary citizens are facing targeting from the ruling authorities. Szydło described experiences where supporters and sympathizers of PiS, including those not formally members but aligned in values, faced ridicule and harassment in various communities. She framed these actions as intimidation tactics intended to signal that anyone aligned with Law and Justice would come under pressure.
– the former prime minister responded.
She emphasized that politics can be harsh, but democratic citizens must retain the right to express support for the party they back without fear of harassment. She argued it is the responsibility of political leaders to protect and stand with those voters who believe in the party’s platform.
– she added.
Reflecting on the consequences of losing power, Szydło described a wave of dismissals and pressure aimed at people who were employed during the PiS administration. She recounted a personal example of a young woman who, despite not being a PiS member, was employed in a state institution and later faced unjust termination after a change in government. The defender in her view is to remain steadfast with these individuals and their voters in the present moment.
– she stated.
Tusk’s aim according to Szydło
The discussion highlighted what Szydło sees as a deliberate effort by Tusk and his allies to attack opponents with conservative and pro-sovereign views. She suggested that the goal is to push back against moves that would see Polish assets sold and national interests subordinated to broader European agendas. She framed these actions as part of a broader struggle over the direction of Poland and its place within Europe.
The MEP argued that the actions of Tusk and his allies are connected to a larger strategy for reshaping the European Union so that Brussels-friendly interests predominate. In her view, this agenda sometimes aligns with initiatives associated with Russia, given that projects once promoted in Brussels before the war in Ukraine had included energy strategies that affected Central and Eastern Europe. She claimed such trends have resurfaced as part of ongoing political contention.
She argued that these tensions create discomfort among countries like Poland, Hungary, and Italy, where conservative governments pursue agendas that challenge dominant European plans. This friction, according to her, fuels a climate of intense political rhetoric and allegations of intimidation, with accusations that Tusk seeks to dismantle PiS and its broader political ecosystem, thereby shaping public opinion in Brussels’ favor.
– summarized Szydło.
Source note: this summary reflects comments made during the interview and subsequent discussion on Telewizja wPolsce24, with attribution to the original program and its participants.