I know how to lead Poland through this difficult time and I know that you will help me in this, said Prime Minister Donald Tusk during Saturday's meeting of the KO National Council in Warsaw. He argued that “Putin's five towards Poland is Kaczyński's five” and that Poland is a country that should maintain and strengthen cooperation between Europe and the USA.
On Saturday, a meeting of the National Council of the Civic Coalition was held in Warsaw, consisting of members of the party's National Board, MPs and senators, MEPs and activists elected by regional councils.
At the beginning of the meeting, Prime Minister and KO leader Donald Tusk made a speech open to the media. – Let's call it what it is: the world we have known for decades is falling apart before our eyes. Some say it no longer exists, he said.
Tusk pointed to “shocks, wars, changes in the geopolitical paradigm, conflicts affecting many regions of the world.” – All this means that we are right in the middle of history. A story, one could say, Shakespearean. Politics in Poland, Europe and the world has acquired this Shakespearean dimension: “to be or not to be, that is the question” that nations, politicians and leaders face – he added.
He emphasized that “this rate accompanies our daily work and will accompany our next elections.” – I am convinced and I really say it with an open heart and such deep faith: I really know and I know that you will help me get Poland through this difficult time – he added.
Tusk: MWe will try to eliminate everything that smells of betrayal
According to the Prime Minister, in order to deal with the most important problems of the modern world, “we must eliminate everything that smells of betrayal, that is betrayal, that is collaboration with those who raise their hand against Polish independence and the unity of Europe.”
– Putin's plan for our country is simple, clear and unconcealed. We can call this plan “Putin's Five”. This is an attempt to dissolve, break up and weaken the European Union and a classic attack on the European Union, organized by people serving Russia's interests also here in Poland – said the Prime Minister.
In this “Putin's five”, he also mentioned attacking Ukraine, quarreling Poland and Ukraine, conflicting Poland with Germany and breaking up the European Union. – I don't think I need to convince anyone that we see the actors of this show in Poland every day. Active, active, often in high positions, he said.
He also mentioned the blocking of funds for armaments in Poland and Europe as a top five. – No one has such an obvious interest in blocking European money for Poland's armament as Putin, and he was close to implementing his fourth point – he emphasized.
– And the fifth point – destroy the institutions of a democratic state. Destroy the institutions of liberal democracy. Destroy or undermine the institutions of the rule of law. Not only in Poland, he noted. – What PiS has done here over the years, yes, is implementing Putin's fifth point – Tusk said.
– Don't you have the impression that I'm reading five points from Kaczyński's new five today? Attack on the European Union. Attack on Ukraine. Conflict with Germany. Blocked European money for armaments in Poland. An attack on state institutions – he calculated. – These are Putin's five and these are Kaczyński's five – added the head of KO.
“Contemporary Targowica”
According to him, the analogy is self-evident – it is a modern Targowica, operating in Poland and Europe. – I want to tell you that I am not at all interested in whether betrayal has the face of a fool, whether betrayal has the face of a salesman, or whether betrayal has the face of an agent, because betrayal is betrayal. This is a betrayal of Polish national interests, he argued.
– Wherever we see the implementation of the political interests of Putin and Moscow, including in Budapest, people of Kaczyński, Nawrocki and Mentzen appear. They are wherever Putin wants them, said the Prime Minister. – Maybe just a desire for revenge, maybe just an uncontrollable, uncontrollable desire to return to power. It doesn't matter what is the reason for these people's actions for the new Russian order in Poland and Europe. Really, the only thing that matters is what is the result of their actions, what is the consequence of their actions. And no one can have any doubts here, said the KO leader.
Tusk also said that Russia and Putin's ambition is also to break up NATO. – It is worth calling things by their name – it is in the interest of Poland and the entire West to maintain the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, with the main mission that accompanied the birth of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, that the Western world is strong, ready to fight for our basic values - freedom, rule of law, human rights, the entire Western civilization – said Tusk.
– Today begins a great debate about the future of NATO. Poland cannot and will not conduct this debate on its knees, incapacitated. We are the most faithful, reliable ally of every country in NATO and, above all, the United States, which perfectly fulfills its obligations. The task of an ally like Poland, strong, wise and loyal, is to call a spade a spade – open conversation, no flattery, not agreeing with everything, just a serious, manly, honest conversation – said Donald Tusk.
– I want everyone to know this – Poland is today predestined to maintain and strengthen cooperation between Poland, Europe and the United States as much as possible, especially in the face of the Russian threat – the Prime Minister also said.
Tusk: Hungary is a country where the “Putin front” is running
The KO leader also referred to Sunday's parliamentary elections in Hungary. He argued that Hungary is a country where a “Putin front” is taking place. In this context, he referred to the results of the Polish elections in 2023 and expressed hope that the elections in Hungary would also end with a defeat for Victor Orban's team, just as PiS lost in Poland in 2023. – They wanted to have Budapest in Warsaw, God willing, they will have Warsaw in Budapest – he said. – We are brothers, just as we were brothers 70 years ago – he added, referring to the events of 1956.
He emphasized that “if our Hungarian friends manage to end this Orban nightmare, it will also be because the political parties have understood that they have to be together on the most important issue.”
– That is why I can say that the Civic Coalition will always be open to any proposal of cooperation, including in elections, with our democratic partners in the government coalition. They will make their own choice. We will not persuade anyone to do anything, it will have to be a choice of the mind and heart, Tusk emphasized.
– Me and the entire Civic Coalition will be open until the last day to every proposal, every idea, every form of cooperation that will help us stop the evil that lurks beyond our border. Evil that lurks in almost every country in Europe and the world, he added.
Tusk also set “only one condition”, which, he added, “is quite obvious.” – You are in a government coalition – I say to you and to our partners – the only condition is that we do not attack each other, so as not to close any path for anyone – he said.
He also informed that he had asked 10 people to prepare for the election campaign: Aleksandra Gajewska, Monika Rosa, Małgorzata Gromadzka, Cezary Tomczyk, Paweł Bliźniuk, Maciej Wróbel, Maciej Tomczykiewicz, Arkadiusz Marchewka, Andrzej Domański and Adam Szłapka. – These are supposed to be 10 people who will help prepare the structures of the Civic Coalition to win the elections – Marcin Kierwiński, recommended for KO secretary general, told journalists.
– The elections will be about maintaining Poland's independence, security and place in Europe. You must prepare for a confrontation, because the opponent is very serious and strong. He expects sacrifice and courage from you – he appealed to KO members.
He also devoted part of his speech to the issue of cryptocurrencies. According to the KO leader, the activities of some companies related to the cryptocurrency market may be a form of financing politicians with Russian money.
During the closed part of Saturday's National Council, its members elected 15 vice-chairmen, a general secretary and a treasurer. (PAP)
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