In August, former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki publicly criticised Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of the Law and Justice (PiS) party, for what he described as the party’s radicalisation. Kaczyński has transitioned PiS from a traditionally conservative stance to a far-right position, embracing rhetoric typically associated with anti-European Union movements.
At the Krynica Forum 2026, Kaczyński emphasised the need for reform within the European Union, mentioning a “hard, risky method” as a potential way to achieve the necessary changes. He said that, if PiS regained power, he would initiate negotiations on Poland’s withdrawal from the EU if alternative reform efforts did not yield satisfactory results.
Proposed strategies included influencing public opinion, negotiating a new treaty with a delayed entry into effect, and the aforementioned “hard and risky” option. Kaczyński maintained that the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union set out the rules governing a state’s departure from the bloc.
Tusk reacts: “A tough fight. I don’t intend to lose it.”
“Jarosław Kaczyński has just announced that Poland should begin negotiations on the terms of exiting the European Union. This is one of the stakes, among others, in today’s battle unfolding in Poland. A tough battle. I do not intend to lose it, even if not everyone plays along with me,“ reacted Prime Minister Donald Tusk in a post today.
Several politicians from the ruling camp reacted to Kaczynski’s plans, pointing to PiS’s pursuit of Polexit.
Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski had previously commented on the matter. “So they do want #Polexit after all. Customs borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Lithuania. Passport controls at airports. An end to subsidies for farmers and for investments. An end to KPO and SAFE. And they swore up and down they’d never do it in their lives.“
Dariusz Klimczak, the Minister of Infrastructure, said in an interview with “Graffiti“ that Kaczyński’s proposal for Poland to exit the European Union runs counter to Poland’s national interest. He pointed to the implications of Brexit as a cautionary example, remarking, “What has been the outcome for Great Britain? I recently hosted a colleague from the UK who articulated the substantial losses the country has incurred since leaving the EU. Now, the new prime minister is the first in many years to entertain the idea of another referendum. Those who have faced significant criticism of the European Union firsthand are well aware of what may lie ahead for Poland.”
In recent years, the Law and Justice Party has formed alliances with the far-right and anti-EU Confederation. Notably, Karol Nawrocki, a PiS-backed candidate, was elected with support from both parties. However, the 2023 elections produced a coalition government of democratic parties, establishing the Tusk government and effectively halting PiS’s anti-EU plans for Poland.
