By Islam El-Sakka
Poland's main opposition leader Jarosław Kaczyński suggested Wednesday that countries led by nationalist parties could negotiate leaving the European Union to pressure the bloc into returning powers to member states.
Speaking at an economic forum in southern Poland, Kaczyński, leader of the national-conservative Law and Justice party, said EU institutions such as the European Commission wield too much influence. He argued that upcoming elections in France and Spain, which could bring far-right politicians to power, might open discussions about change.
Reform proposals and withdrawal threat
Kaczyński outlined several reform ideas, including having national parliamentarians monitor EU bodies for legal violations. As a last resort, he proposed that reform-seeking countries conclude a new treaty taking effect later while simultaneously opening EU withdrawal negotiations, framing it as leverage to force concessions.
The remarks drew sharp criticism from Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who wrote on X that Kaczyński had announced Poland should begin negotiations on leaving the EU. Kaczyński accused Tusk of misrepresenting his intentions, stating his goal is a union that benefits ordinary citizens, not elites.
Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said Kaczyński's honesty should help voters understand the consequences of choosing the far-right. Poland, a key NATO ally on the eastern flank and one of the EU's fastest-growing economies, has gained strategic importance through its support for Ukraine. Kaczyński's party governed from 2015 to 2023, clashing with EU institutions over rule of law and human rights. Polls suggest he could return to power next year if allied with rising far-right groups.
