The main opposition party in Poland, Law and Justice (PiS), has announced plans to collect signatures for a referendum aimed at denouncing the European Union’s migration pact.
Party leader Jarosław Kaczyński declared the initiative during a speech at a party convention in Pułtusk, central Poland.
Focusing much of his address on the challenges at Poland’s borders with Belarus and Germany, Kaczyński highlighted the weakened security measures under the current government. He also criticized allowing in activists who aid migrants sent by Belarusian authorities.
“Today, the border is less defended than under PiS governance,” Kaczyński told supporters.
“Morale has been effectively lowered. Despite having created a protective zone, so-called activists, those who assist migrants in illegally crossing the border, are allowed in. This is a complete absurdity. People who are de facto allies of Putin and Lukashenko are given passes… And what does the defense minister do? A good man. He asks them to stop doing it. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it’s embarrassing,” he added.
Kaczyński emphasized the need for a referendum as a national task, reminiscent of the last referendum held simultaneously with the parliamentary elections on Oct. 15, 2023.
According to a survey published on Saturday by the newspaper Rzeczpospolita, 58.6 percent of Poles responded affirmatively to the question, “Do you think Poland is threatened by an increased influx of immigrants due to the European Union adopting the migration pact?”
Significantly fewer, only 20.5 percent of respondents, answered negatively. Meanwhile, a total of 14.4 percent had no opinion, and 6.5 percent had not heard of the migration pact at all.
The EU migration pact stipulates that member states must choose between agreeing to relocate and accept migrants or making a payment to the EU budget called a “solidarity contribution.” Taxpayers would have to pay €20,000 for each illegal migrant a nation refuses. The “accept or pay” process is sometimes referred to by the media and politicians as “voluntary solidarity.”
On May 14 in Brussels, representatives of EU states adopted further documents concerning the reform of the common asylum system. Only Poland and Hungary voted against it. As part of the migration pact, an asylum directive will now require member states to support illegal immigrants. The document has been in effect since June 11 of this year, and member states are obligated to implement the necessary national legislative, executive, and administrative measures by June 12, 2026.
