Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of Poland's main opposition Law and Justice party, has suggested that countries led by nationalist parties could open negotiations to leave the European Union as a last resort to pressure the bloc to return powers to member states. The remarks, made Wednesday at an economic forum in southern Poland, drew criticism from senior government figures.
Kaczyński, whose party governed Poland from 2015 to 2023, said EU institutions such as the European Commission have too much influence and that upcoming elections in France and Spain, which could bring far-right politicians to power, could open the way for discussions about change.
“The European Union must be changed. This is my deep conviction, shared by my party and, I believe, very many Poles,” he said at the forum.
Poland, a key country on NATO's eastern flank and one of the EU's fastest-growing economies, has gained strategic importance in recent years, partly through its role in supporting Ukraine. His party's time in power led to major conflicts with EU institutions over the rule of law and human rights. With a general election a year away, polls indicate that Kaczyński's party could return to power if he allies with smaller far-right groups that have been on the rise.
Kaczyński offered several ideas for reform, including having national parliamentarians monitor how often EU bodies break EU law. But as a last resort, he suggested that countries seeking reform could conclude a new treaty that would take effect later while simultaneously opening EU withdrawal negotiations, presenting that as a way to pressure other countries and EU bodies to accept changes.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a pro-European leader, wrote on X. “Jarosław Kaczyński has just announced that Poland should begin negotiations on the conditions of leaving the European Union,” he wrote.
Kaczyński accused Tusk of misrepresenting his intentions. “We want the union to benefit not the elites, but the ordinary citizens,” he shot back on X. He said the EU reform he advocates focuses on “improving citizens' living conditions, lowering energy prices, strengthening security, pursuing a responsible migration policy and an ambitious economic and agricultural policy without unnecessary bureaucracy.”
Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said Kaczyński's remarks should help Polish voters understand the consequences of choosing the far-right. “I thank Jarosław Kaczyński for his honesty,” Sikorski said.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Poland is a strategically important EU and NATO member, playing a key role in supporting Ukraine and anchoring the alliance's eastern flank; any shift in its EU alignment would have significant geopolitical consequences.
- Kaczyński's remarks signal a hardening of the opposition's stance on EU reform ahead of the general election, potentially pulling the political centre of gravity further toward euroscepticism.
- The debate over EU sovereignty and national control resonates across the bloc, with far-right and nationalist parties gaining ground in several member states amid rising pressure for institutional change.
Background
Poland's relationship with the EU has been tense since Law and Justice came to power in 2015, leading to disputes over judicial independence, media freedom and LGBT rights that prompted Brussels to freeze billions of euros in funding. Kaczyński's party lost power to a pro-European coalition led by Donald Tusk in 2023, but opinion polls suggest it could return to government in the next election if it forms a pact with far-right groups that have grown in popularity. The European Commission has recently started releasing some of the frozen funds as the current government has taken steps to restore rule-of-law standards.
Key Perspectives
Jarosław Kaczyński: Argues the EU must be fundamentally reformed and that countries seeking change should be prepared to use the threat of withdrawal as leverage. He insists his aim is to improve living conditions for ordinary Poles, lower energy prices, strengthen security and reduce bureaucracy.
Donald Tusk: Accuses Kaczyński of effectively announcing the start of negotiations to leave the EU, portraying the opposition leader's position as a direct threat to Poland's place in the union.
Radosław Sikorski: Says Kaczyński's remarks reveal the true intentions of the opposition, warning voters of the consequences of electing a government aligned with far-right forces.
What to Watch
- The election campaign: whether Tusk's government and pro-European parties can frame Kaczyński's comments as a clear 'Polexit' risk to swing moderate voters.
- Alliances on the right: whether Kaczyński formalises a pact with smaller far-right groups such as Confederation, and what conditions they attach.
- EU reaction: how Brussels and other member states respond to the Polish opposition's growing euroscepticism, especially given the bloc's ongoing internal debates over treaty change and the balance of power.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- Partly supportedThe headline says Tusk said Poland should begin exit negotiations, which can read as Tusk endorsing that course.The Independent UK: ““Jarosław Kaczyński has just announced that Poland should begin negotiations on the conditions of leaving the European Union," the pro-European prime minister, Donald Tusk, wrote on X.”
- SupportedKaczyński floated opening EU exit negotiations as leverage to pressure the bloc to return powers to member states.The Independent UK: “the country's main opposition leader suggested that countries led by nationalist parties could open negotiations to leave the European Union to pressure it to return powers to member states.”
- SupportedKaczyński’s remarks drew criticism from Prime Minister Donald Tusk.The Independent UK: “His remarks sparked criticism from senior government figures in Poland. “Jarosław Kaczyński has just announced that Poland should begin negotiations on the conditions of leaving the European Union," the pro-European prime minister, Donald Tusk, wrote on X.”
- SupportedKaczyński said, “The European Union must be changed. This is my deep conviction, shared by my party and, I believe, very many Poles,” at the forum.The Independent UK: ““The European Union must be changed. This is my deep conviction, shared by my party and, I believe, very many Poles,” Jarosław Kaczyński, the leader of the national-conservative Law and Justice , said Wednesday at an economic forum in southern Poland.”
- SupportedTusk wrote on X that Kaczyński had announced Poland should begin negotiations on the conditions of leaving the EU.The Independent UK: ““Jarosław Kaczyński has just announced that Poland should begin negotiations on the conditions of leaving the European Union," the pro-European prime minister, Donald Tusk, wrote on X.”
- SupportedKaczyński accused Tusk of misrepresenting his intentions and wrote, “We want the union to benefit not the elites, but the ordinary citizens,” on X.The Independent UK: “Kaczyński accused Tusk of misrepresenting his intentions. “We want the union to benefit not the elites, but the ordinary citizens,” Kaczyński shot back on X.”
- SupportedKaczyński said his EU reform agenda included improving living conditions, lowering energy prices, strengthening security, migration policy and economic and agricultural policy without unnecessary bureaucracy.The Independent UK: “Kaczyński said the EU reform he is advocating was focused on “improving citizens' living conditions, lowering energy prices, strengthening security, pursuing a responsible migration policy and an ambitious economic and agricultural policy without unnecessary bureaucracy.””
- SupportedSikorski said Kaczyński’s remarks should help voters understand the consequences of choosing the far-right and said, “I thank Jarosław Kaczyński for his honesty.”The Independent UK: “Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said Kaczyński's remarks should help Polish voters understand the consequences of choosing the far-right. “I thank Jarosław Kaczyński for his honesty,” Sikorski said.”
- SupportedKaczyński made the remarks Wednesday at an economic forum in southern Poland.The Independent UK: “Jarosław Kaczyński, the leader of the national-conservative Law and Justice , said Wednesday at an economic forum in southern Poland.”
- SupportedAs a last resort, Kaczyński suggested a new treaty could take effect later while countries seeking reform simultaneously opened EU withdrawal negotiations to pressure others to accept changes.The Independent UK: “as a last resort, he suggested that countries seeking reform could conclude a new treaty that would take effect at a later date while simultaneously opening EU withdrawal negotiations. He presented that as a way to pressure other countries and EU bodies to accept changes.”
- SupportedKaczyński’s party governed Poland from 2015 to 2023, and its time in power led to major conflicts with EU institutions over rule of law and human rights.The Independent UK: “Kaczyński’s party led Poland between 2015 and 2023, leading to major conflicts with EU institutions over the rule of law and human rights.”
- SupportedWith the general election a year away, polls indicated Kaczyński could bring his party back to power if he allied with smaller far-right groups that had been gaining support.The Independent UK: “One year ahead of general elections, polls indicate that Kaczyński could bring his party back to power if he allies with smaller far-right groups that have been on the rise in Poland in recent years.”