Former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki sharply criticized former German Chancellor Angela Merkel in an extensive post on X following her interview with the Hungarian online channel Partizan. He accused her of making historic mistakes that made Europe dependent on Russia and of trying to shift the blame for the failed policy toward Vladimir Putin onto Poland and the Baltic states.
Morawiecki published an analysis responding to Merkel’s latest comments. In her conversation with the Hungarian outlet, Merkel claimed that her attempt to create a “new format for talks with Putin” failed because of the “stubbornness and obstruction of Poland and the Baltic states.”
These words sparked outrage in Poland.
Morawiecki began his post with bitter irony: “Has Angela Merkel already received flowers from Putin?” He then stated that the former chancellor “has proven with her latest interview that even in retirement she remains among the most harmful German politicians of this century.”
“Catastrophic Decisions” and Their Consequences
The former prime minister recalled that Merkel’s many years in power led to disastrous consequences felt across Europe. He pointed to the continent’s dependency on Russian energy, driven by the promotion of the Nord Stream I and II projects. As Morawiecki wrote, these were not “purely economic projects” but “political instruments of both the Kremlin and Berlin.” He emphasized that “after Merkel’s 2011 decision to shut down Germany’s nuclear power plants, the country became even more dependent on Russian gas. When Russia turned off the tap, Berlin entered a state of energy emergency — and prices skyrocketed across Europe.”
According to Morawiecki, Merkel’s policies led to “the weakening of European industry and security” and to “the strengthening of Russia, China, and other powers hostile to the West.”
The Migration Crisis and Accusations Against Poland
The second pillar of Morawiecki’s criticism was Merkel’s 2015 migration policy, symbolized by her famous words “Wir schaffen das” (“We can do it”).
The former prime minister argued that Europe, in fact, could not do it, and that the consequences of opening the borders were “social costs, cultural tensions, and rising crime.” He added that “Western and Southern Europe are still paying for that gesture — with the loss of safety, control, and public order.”
In light of these historical mistakes, Morawiecki described Merkel’s attempt to blame Poland for the failure of talks with Putin as “grotesque — a reversal of victim and perpetrator.” He wrote:
“Today Merkel accuses Poland and the Baltic states of blocking her alleged “peace plan” with Russia. So the culprit is not the Chancellor who made Europe dependent on the Kremlin — but Poland, which warned against Putin?.”
Merkel’s Legacy in Donald Tusk’s Politics
Morawiecki also linked Merkel’s policies with those of the current Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk. He referred to Tusk as “Merkel’s loyal bureaucrat in Brussels,” who “was not the architect of this disaster but remains its executor.” According to Morawiecki, during his tenure as President of the European Council, Tusk “obediently followed Merkel’s lead,” and now, as prime minister, he “repeats her mistakes.”
Morawiecki concluded his post with a strong historical parallel to the 1938 Munich Agreement, quoting Winston Churchill:
“You were given the choice between dishonor and war. You chose dishonor, and you will have war.”
He summarized: “Merkel chose compromise with Russia — and war came anyway. Now she blames Poland.”
He ended his post with a declaration:
“Merkel chose Putin. Tusk chose Merkel. I will always choose Poland!”