Under the slogan #StopIllegalMigration, politicians from the Law and Justice (PiS) party held press conferences across various cities in Poland, accusing Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government of enabling an influx of illegal immigrants. They urged citizens to support a referendum on the issue by signing a petition.
During the press events, PiS representatives hung symbolic signs outside Civic Platform (PO) offices that read “Foreigners Integration Center – Refugees Welcome” in Polish, English, German, and Arabic, alongside the PO party logo.
Former Lesser Poland Voivode and current MP Łukasz Kmita, speaking at a press conference in Kraków, described the gesture as an appeal to PO politicians: “If they are so eager to invite intruders from the West to Poland, then they should take responsibility for those decisions.”
MP Andrzej Adamczyk, referring to what he claimed were thousands of migrants entering Poland from Germany under the “13 December coalition” government, warned, “this is only the beginning.” He predicted that within months or years, “the peaceful image of Polish towns and cities” would vanish.
According to Adamczyk, illegal migrants are being transported from Germany in German police vehicles across borders that have, in his words, been “sealed” by Germany. “The Polish government is doing nothing about it,” he said in Kraków. Citing German media, he spoke of “secret talks” between Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the German government regarding a migration pact.
“Half a Million Signatures? We’ll Collect More!”
MP Agnieszka Ścigaj, also in Kraków, emphasized concerns about women’s safety. Citing Eurostat data, she pointed out significantly higher rates of rape in France, Belgium, and Germany compared to Poland. “We ask everyone to sign in support of the referendum,” she urged. She added that only Karol Nawrocki as president could guarantee a halt to illegal migration.
“We need to collect 500,000 signatures. We’ll collect more,” MP Czesław Hoc said at a press conference in Koszalin. There, PiS politicians suggested that, in response to the planned creation of 49 Foreigners Integration Centers in Poland, PiS supporters should display anti-illegal migration signs in all PO and coalition party offices.
In Szczecin, MPs Zbigniew Bogucki, Artur Szałabawka, and local and regional councilors claimed that the centers planned in cities like Szczecin, Koszalin, Gorzów Wielkopolski, and Zielona Góra — all near the German border — are “a step towards implementing the migration pact.” When asked about the locations of the centers in Szczecin (currently the City Help Center for Ukraine on Maria Skłodowska-Curie Street) and in Koszalin (at Dworcowa Street, currently housing a non-profit workspace), Bogucki expressed skepticism: “I don’t believe the government’s information on migration policy.”
Krzysztof Romianowski, head of the PiS city council club in Szczecin, and Rafał Niburski, head of PiS in the West Pomeranian Regional Assembly, announced that during April sessions, PiS council members would submit resolutions opposing illegal migrants. “We will present a resolution to be voted on by the city council that clearly opposes the establishment of a Foreigners Integration Center and makes it clear that illegal migrants should not be placed in Szczecin. We must take care of our residents’ safety,” said Romianowski.
In Warsaw, MPs Sebastian Kaleta, Piotr Gliński, Dominika Chorosińska, and Jarosław Krajewski blamed PO — particularly Donald Tusk and Rafał Trzaskowski — for promoting a migration policy aligned with that of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government. “We wanted to signal our opposition to implementing the migration pact. We demand the pact be rejected and border controls reinstated with Germany,” said Kaleta.