“If it weren’t for me and the €6 billion worth of weapons purchased, none of this would have happened,” said Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz when asked about F-35 fighter jets. His statement triggered a sharp reaction from the opposition. “Hypocrisy and arrogance reach the stars. Kosiniak is taking credit for someone else’s achievements because he has none of his own,” emphasized MP Dariusz Stefaniuk (Law and Justice (PiS)).
F-35 for Poland. Kosiniak-Kamysz: If it weren’t for me, none of this would have happened
At the beginning of 2020, Poland signed a $4.6 billion contract to acquire 32 F-35 aircraft, which will be known as “Husarz”. According to the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, it was the second-largest arms deal in the country’s history. Production of the first aircraft was completed in November 2024. By the end of this year, 14 jets are planned to arrive in Poland, with another 12 by the end of 2027. The first three F-35 aircraft arrived in Poland at the end of May this year.
At present, representatives of the 13 December coalition repeatedly attribute to themselves the merits of purchasing these multi-role aircraft. Meanwhile, just a few years ago, when the Law and Justice (PiS) government was signing contracts with the Americans, they were saying something completely different.
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, the current Minister of National Defence, once stated: “We must move away from projects that are an expression of megalomania and are not top-priority projects, such as the Central Communication Port or the purchase of F-35 aircraft”.
The head of the Ministry of National Defence gave an interview to TVN24 today, where he was again asked about the F-35 issue.
“If it weren’t for me and the €6 billion worth of weapons purchased, none of this would have happened,” said Kosiniak-Kamysz. “Hypocrisy and arrogance reach the stars”.
His remarks were sharply criticized by Mateusz Kurzejewski, deputy spokesperson of Law and Justice (PiS).
“How do you break through the bottom of embarrassment while simultaneously reaching the peak of hypocrisy? This extraordinary achievement was accomplished today by Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who unfortunately is the Minister of National Defence. Mr Maverick today on TVN24 said about the F-35: ‘IF IT WEREN’T FOR ME, NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED’. Let us remind what he said when he was still in opposition: ‘We must move away from projects that are an expression of megalomania and are not top-priority projects, such as the Central Communication Port or the purchase of F-35 aircraft’,” the politician said.
He also addressed the head of the Ministry of National Defence with the following words: “Minister, your only contribution to the F-35 matter is the moment when you decided to turn yourself into a comedy act and present yourself to the public as Tom Cruise from the famous film. Poland needs good comedians, but not necessarily in the position of Minister of National Defence.”
“Hypocrisy and arrogance reach the stars. Kosiniak is taking credit for someone else’s achievements because he has none of his own. Unless you consider as an achievement: I’ve put Poles into debt for 40 years, so now I can puff out my chest and collect medals. How weak this is,” Stefaniuk said.