“Our labor market is what it is. We need workers. I hope they’ll assimilate if these foreigners reach us,” stated Adam Chmiel, the Tarnowskie Góry County head (starosta), elected from Civic Coalition (KO), when asked about the migration pact. Not long ago, Donald Tusk himself assured the public that Poland allegedly would not accept foreigners under the pact.
KO Official Speaks Directly about Migrants: “We Need Workers”
Adam Chmiel, the starosta of Tarnowskie Góry County who ran on Civic Coalition lists, was asked about potential consequences of Poland accepting foreigners under the migration pact, scheduled to come into force in 2026.
“If we have to accept other refugees, I suspect local governments will try to handle it properly,” he declared.
A journalist further questioned, “Do you have no concerns regarding refugees culturally foreign to us, who would be admitted?”
“Let me answer differently. Our labor market is what it is. We need workers. […] I hope they’ll assimilate if these foreigners reach us. I remind you that we need workers,” he replied.
The interviewer pointed out that immigration of culturally different individuals correlates with increased crime, citing Germany as an example. “Why would it be any different here? Do you think the government should accept immigrants?” asked the journalist.
“If such a situation arises, I suppose local governments will deal with it,” replied Chmiel.
Migration Pact
Donald Tusk has consistently denied that Poland will accept migrants under the migration pact. However, at the end of January this year, a spokesperson for the German Interior Ministry said that there had been agreement during a meeting of EU ministers in Warsaw regarding the earlier implementation of the migration pact. Tusk did not comment on this, nor did he respond to later statements by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about “moving migrants across borders.”
In February, MEP Janusz Lewandowski openly admitted on RMF FM radio that the migration pact will come into effect, as there was no minority sufficient to block the mechanism. The pact is set to be enacted in mid-2026.