WARSAW – In his inauguration speech as Poland’s new president, Karol Nawrocki promised a more assertive stance towards Brussels, stating that the country cannot be “a subsidiary farm” of the EU, reports 24brussels.
Nawrocki, backed by the national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, narrowly defeated pro-European candidate Rafał Trzaskowski from Donald Tusk’s Civic Coalition in June’s election.
During his inauguration on Wednesday, Nawrocki criticized Tusk’s pro-European camp, asserting that he would not permit Warsaw to be dominated by Brussels.
“I will be the voice of those who want a sovereign Poland. A Poland that is in the EU, but is not the EU. A Poland that is, and will remain, Poland,” he declared.
The new president called for bold investments and renewed ambition, stating: “We can no longer be a subsidiary farm for our western neighbours or the entire EU.”
In a clear indication of his foreign policy objectives, Nawrocki proposed expanding the Bucharest Nine (B9) defense format to include Nordic countries. Established in 2015 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea, B9 was initiated by the then-Romanian and Polish presidents.
“Strengthening NATO’s eastern flank will be the guiding focus of my presidency,” Nawrocki pledged, signaling a commitment to enhanced regional defense.
Calls for Unity
Reacting to the inauguration, Tusk addressed his supporters in a post on X, acknowledging the disappointment within his camp. “We all believed that honesty, goodness, and love would prevail,” he wrote, adding that “what has happened puts our faith to a serious test.”
Following the ceremony, a traditional mass was held. Archbishop Adrian Galbas, a moderate among Poland’s bishops, used his homily to promote unity, warning that the country’s “long-standing political conflict” had “tragically divided our nation into hostile tribes.”
Just hours before the archbishop’s sermon, Nawrocki had criticized the previous pro-EU government, claiming it was “undermining the rule of law” in Poland.
Previously, under PiS governments, Poland faced significant rule of law disputes with Brussels, leading to legal action and frozen EU funds, which were later restored following Tusk’s election in 2023.
