Prime Minister: The fight for Poland continues. Is the decline in Hołownia's ratings Tusk's fault? “I don't accept the argument”
We will not capitulate; this fight for Poland continues and will always continue; you can never rest and give up – said Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Wednesday at a meeting with the residents of Piotrków Trybunalski on the second anniversary of the parliamentary elections, after which the current ruling coalition was formed.
The Prime Minister emphasized that one of the most important changes that were to take place after the elections was “the reconciliation of Poles on the most important issues.” – I will not give up on this matter either (…). We will not capitulate. This fight for a better Poland continues and will always continue. You can never rest, you can never give up, Tusk emphasized.
As he added, one of the “basic goals” of the parliamentary elections on October 15, 2023 was to “talk about Poles' issues, not shout at each other.”
The Prime Minister's statement was disrupted by one of the women participating in the meeting. – We would really like to be able to talk about these issues, and not shout (…). Please respect the people gathered here, the Prime Minister told her.
– That's why we voted on October 15, so that no one shouts at anyone or raises their voices. One of the absolutely basic goals when we went to the elections was to talk about Poles' issues, and not to shout at each other, Tusk emphasized.
The head of government also referred to Robert Bąkiewicz's statement at Saturday's PiS rally. He said such language could “lead to a political catastrophe.” – I don't know if you heard how this man did not shout to the gathered several thousand supporters of PiS and Mr. Jarosław Kaczyński, but actually roared about (…) that we are weeds that need to be pulled out. This is the language that can lead to such a social and political catastrophe, he said.
– Restoring basic self-respect is absolutely crucial and this task, one way or another, remains valid – emphasized the Prime Minister.
Tusk: Bełchatów is first on the list of locations for the second nuclear power plant
If a decision is made to locate the second Polish nuclear power plant, Bełchatów is at the top of the list – said Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Wednesday during a meeting in Piotrków Trybunalski. He also assured that the government has not said the last word on teacher pay raises.
The head of government recalled that on Wednesday morning he visited the construction site of the first Polish nuclear power plant in Lubiatowo-Kopalino in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. – I know that in the region you are still waiting for some signal about what will happen to Bełchatów in the future. I know and understand it, Tusk said to the meeting participants.
– Today I can say with full awareness and responsibility that if – according to all the analyzes we are currently completing – a decision is made about the second location of the nuclear power plant, Bełchatów will be at the top of this list – assured the Prime Minister.
Tusk also touched on the topic of wind farms in the Baltic Sea. – Extremely complex structures, the most modern in the world and yes, some of the largest wind farms in Europe are becoming a fact – he said. He emphasized that this issue is important in a situation where energy prices in Poland are high.
– I am convinced, and I am taking you as witnesses, that there will be no need to freeze energy prices any more, I am talking about next year, because these prices will naturally become at the same level as today's frozen prices – assured Tusk.
The Prime Minister also referred to the barrier that was built on the Polish-Belarusian border during the PiS government. He assessed that it “was leaky by definition” and those in power built it “to hold a press conference.” Tusk said that thanks to “additional large-scale investments”, the barrier on the eastern border had been strengthened. – We achieved almost 100 percent effectiveness. detentions at this border – said the head of government. He added that the government also managed to introduce regulations “that actually allow us to protect the Polish border.”
Tusk also referred to the situation in education.
– Who decided to give 30% immediately, once and in the first days? raises for teachers? – he asked. – That 30 percent. it was really a very solid injection – added the Prime Minister. He said it was still not enough for teachers to “talk about justice.” – This is certainly not our last word on this matter – he assured.
Prime Minister: I do not accept the argument that the decline in Hołownia's ratings is “Tusk's fault”
During Wednesday's meeting with the residents of Piotrków Trybunalski, the Prime Minister admitted that the last two years had not been easy.
– After two difficult years – the war, the fight against high prices, the political civil war that PiS and Confederation declare not only on the government, but on the entire society – I can say with a clear conscience that more or less as many people, and maybe even with a small plus, as decided to vote for us on October 15, still believe in the Civic Coalition. And I wanted to thank you very much for this, said Donald Tusk.
He admitted that not all members of the ruling coalition could say the same about themselves. – I do not accept the argument (…) that it is Tusk's fault that Szymon Hołownia lost his position. Everyone falls at their own request, said the Prime Minister. He admitted that he would prefer all those who make up the government to be “in good shape.” But as he pointed out, “I can't handle everything when it comes to political parties.”
– Nearly 70 percent Poles think of their personal situation as a good situation, for me this is truly the greatest reward – said the head of government.
He pointed out that “in 2026, Poland will spend PLN 200 billion on military security.” – In the last year of the government of our predecessors, it was PLN 114 billion. Of course, they had mouths full of platitudes. We do it twice as fast and twice as intensively. And as we can see, for example, on the eastern border, we do it much more effectively – said the head of government.
He recalled that the Centers for Integration of Foreigners (CIC), which PiS is now protesting against, were to be “established in many places with European funds, in cooperation with local governments” during their times. As he noted, all the main narratives of his political opponents “are built on lies.”
– Exactly 20 years ago, Jacek Kurski, after raising the issue of the “grandfather from the Wehrmacht”, was said to have said to his circle of friends: “This Wehrmacht is crap, but ignorant people will buy it,” Tusk recalled. As he noted, “any situation is good for them to build such a fundamental lie as a political club against their opponent.”
Tusk: The Polish railway will be the most modern and fastest in Europe
– We fought inflation effectively. Where possible, we gave solid raises. We gave much more for health – emphasized the head of government.
As he noted, one of the government's priorities now is investing in railway infrastructure. – The railway is the apple of my eye – he assured. – Expressways and motorways in Poland are among the most modern and densest in Europe. Now it's time for the turn. It will be the most modern and fastest in Europe, announced the head of government. He added that investments focus on restoring old lines and building new ones. We do not forget about smaller towns and former voivodeships, whether it is Łomża or Sierakowice in Kashubia – added Tusk.
The Prime Minister also referred to the re-Polonization of investments. – Wherever we invest, we say one thing: whoever is the investor, this investment must involve Polish companies, local entrepreneurs, even the smallest and large Polish companies – said Donald Tusk.
Prime Minister: protecting Polish agriculture against unfair competition is beyond discussion
One of the voters pointed out that farmers currently have a very big problem with selling their products, and in addition, if the agreement with Mercosur countries and trade liberalization with Ukraine and the United States come into force, they are “not protected in any way.” – We will not withstand this competition – he said, handing the Prime Minister 20 demands developed by agricultural organizations
– I have never talked to any professional group as often and as many times as with farmers – replied Tusk. – Protecting Polish agriculture against unfair and ruthless competition, as was the case with Ukrainian grain, is beyond discussion. Here you have not only my words, but also the decisions I made. (…) You will be truly safe in this matter – assured the Prime Minister.
He admitted that the agreement with Ukraine is not one hundred percent what farmers would like, but “it is twenty times better than what was in force for two years before I blocked it in Brussels a year ago.” He recalled that his predecessors “agreed to fully open the border with Ukraine and within one year they jumped from 60,000 tons of Ukrainian grain to 2.5 million tons.”
Referring to the agreement with the Mercosur countries, the head of government said that he must take into account the interests of the entire society. – If we close ourselves off to the rest of the world by protecting Polish agricultural products, we will also radically limit export opportunities – Tusk explained. He said that he must keep the interests of the Polish consumer in mind. – There are more consumers than farmers – said the Prime Minister.
He explained that in the case of the agreement with Mercosur, whenever market rules are violated, “too many products will arrive, we will argue in Europe every time and quotas and tariffs will be introduced.”
He assured that there are also “national ways of controlling the border to prevent the threat of the inflow of agricultural products from Ukraine. – We are looking for a way to force retail chains in Poland so that there is no huge difference between what they pay you and what people see as prices in stores,” said the Prime Minister.
The head of government was also asked whether he would take part in the commemorations of the outbreak of World War II, which take place every year on September 1 in Wieluń. – If nothing else happens today, the marshal (Monika Wielichowska) will write down in her memory for now, and later in her notebook, that we must do it so that I can make it to both Westerplatte and Wieluń in a year – replied Tusk.
Speaking about the fight in political life, he emphasized that it is necessary to “select the right tools for the right situation.”
– If they attack us with words, let us also attack them with words. If they attack us with a fist, we will punch back. If they attack our border with violence, the Polish soldier knows what to do now (…). If they send drones to Poland, we will shoot them down. (…) In football terms, I often say it: I will never take my step back. You want to hit me, I'll hit you back. Remember, I will give back more if I know that I am right and that I am also doing it for other people, Tusk said. (PAP)
akar/ mgw/ jus/ par/ nl/ ef/
