“If I say that Poland will not be accepting migrants under the migration pact, then it won’t. If I’m saying this publicly, it means I know it’s true”, Donald Tusk repeated once again.
Let’s go back to Tuesday. That was when the European Commission (KE) announced that Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Croatia, Austria and Poland are facing severe migration pressure and will be able to apply for full or partial exemptions from migrant relocation for the coming year under the EU’s Asylum and Migration Pact.
Nevertheless, for Donald Tusk it became an opportunity to proclaim a major success. He did exactly that, publishing a post on X stating:
Yes, as I said, Poland will not be accepting migrants under the Migration Pact. Nor paying for it. This is already decided. We act, we don’t talk!
But that wasn’t all. The Ministry of Interior and Administration (MSWiA) posted a message in a similar tone.
An Alternative Reality?
And although Brussels’ statement is easy to understand, members of Donald Tusk’s government are trying to bend reality. The worst part, however, is that they are attempting to imprint in public opinion the narrative that Poland will be categorically exempt from the migrant relocation mechanism.
That is why today, during Tusk’s press conference, Monika Rutke from TV Republika asked the following question: “Why are you, as the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, misleading Poles by claiming that the European Commission (KE) has confirmed Poland’s exemption from the relocation of migrants? Meanwhile, in its statement, the Commission says only that Poland may apply for an exemption – but only for one year.”
How did Tusk respond? As always.
“It’s very easy to verify. You can also check the credibility of my statements that Poland will not be – neither next year nor the year after nor in three years – obligated to accept migrants under the relocation system provided for by the migration pact. These are the procedures: a state that says we are not accepting migrants because we have a different point of view, different circumstances. Poland will not be accepting these migrants, the European Commission (KE) understands this, but formally – the state must apply for it. The relocation mechanism covers the entire European Union, and a state that does not want to participate must notify it. That’s all and nothing more,” he replied.
And he kept going: “I am not naïve, because soon it will be clear whether Poland is covered by this obligation or not. If I were making this up, it would fall apart very quickly. Here I ask you to trust me – at least my understanding of my own political interest. If I say that Poland will not be accepting migrants under the migration pact, then it won’t. If I’m saying this publicly, it means I know it’s true.”