“I am not, as a candidate for the office of President, ready to hand over control of the Polish army to Ursula von der Leyen,” declared Karol Nawrocki, the civic presidential candidate supported by PiS, on Sunday in Przemyśl. With this statement, he criticized the Tusk government’s submissive policy toward Germany and its acceptance of Berlin’s anti-American stance.
Polish agriculture must not suffer
During a debate focused on the development of the Podkarpacie region, Nawrocki emphasized security issues and Ukraine. He stressed that it is in Poland’s interest for Russia to be as weak as possible and Ukraine as strong as possible, which is why Poland must continue to support Ukraine.
However, he also pledged that as President of Poland, he would not allow Polish farmers, agricultural enterprises, or transport companies to suffer due to unfair competition from Ukraine. He emphasized that the President of Poland’s primary duty is to “care for Polish men and women.”
Nawrocki also noted that a new trade agreement between the EU and Ukraine will come into effect in June. He warned that this could lead to the liberalization of certain trade restrictions.
“I am genuinely concerned about this. Solidarity – yes. Cooperation – yes. Moscow – as far from Poland as possible. Ukraine – as strong as possible, so it can withstand the Russian Federation. But not at the expense of Polish agriculture,” he said.
He added that he opposes the liberalization of food imports from Ukraine, arguing that such a move would devastate Polish agriculture.
The EU must know its limits
The politician also pointed out that the EU is currently engaged in what he described as “essentially building a second NATO,” a development he firmly opposes.
“I am not, as a candidate for the office of President, ready to hand over control of the Polish army to Ursula von der Leyen,” he reiterated.
In his view, Poland should cooperate with the EU, but only within existing frameworks. He mentioned formats such as the Bucharest Nine, the Carpathian Europe initiative, and the Three Seas Initiative as key platforms for cooperation.
“But we did not join the European Union so that, through Donald Tusk, the current Prime Minister, the EU could dictate what Polish children should learn in Polish schools and how their identity should be shaped—or rather, reshaped—by a counterculture coming from the West,” Nawrocki said.
He also stressed that Poland must not cede security-related competences to the EU. “Our place is in the North Atlantic Alliance,” he concluded.