Opposition election victory would mean “end of Poland”, warns Kaczyński

If the opposition win this autumn’s elections, it would mean the “end of Poland”, says Jarosław Kaczyński, chairman of the ruling party, who claims that foreign forces, especially Germany, are seeking to hinder Poland’s development with the help of Polish collaborators.

The claims appeared in a letter Kaczyński addressed to members of the clubs created by Gazeta Polska, a conservative newspaper supportive of his Law and Justice (PiS) party.

The PiS chairman began by “thanking you with all my heart for everything you have done and are doing for Poland, for [your] dedicated and persistent work in building the republic of our dreams”.

“Poland [should] be able…to pursue a policy, both internal and external, serving the Polish state and national interests,” continued Kaczyński, who holds no formal position in government but is seen as Poland’s de facto leader. “But, as we well know, our aspirations to build [such a] republic…are not to everyone’s taste.”

“Various foreign centres, with Berlin at the forefront, supported by Polish comprador groups, would like to turn our country away from the path of political and economic independence, to narrow our development prospects,” he warned.

“Comprador” is a historical term originally referring to natives who worked as servants or agents for colonial powers. The word was later used in Marxist rhetoric to refer to members of the bourgeoisie who allied themselves with foreign business interests.

“The European mainstream liberal-left dreams of annihilating the old world, including our identity and collective memory, and forging a new man and a new society,” continued Kaczyński in his letter.

“If we want to continue to face them down effectively, we must win the autumn elections,” he warned, “so that we can continue on the path of building and strengthening a homeland that is sovereign in spirit, strong in economy, safe, prosperous, just and solidary.”

“The republic cannot afford for the patriotic camp to lose these elections,” concluded Kaczyński. “The rule of…the total opposition can mean only one thing: finis Poloniae [the end of Poland].”

“Total opposition” is a term first used by an opposition leader and then adopted by PiS to refer to the idea that the opposition want to win at all costs and by using any means possible.

Finis Poloniae is a Latin phrase often, but falsely, attributed to Polish military leader Tadeusz Kościuszko after defeat to Russia at the 1794 Battle of Maciejowice during a failed uprising against Russian and Prussian influence over Poland.

Kaczyński has regularly presented this year’s elections – at which PiS is hoping to win an unprecedented third term – in existential terms. In September, he said that voters had a choice between the “German faction” – an opposition that will help Berlin “subordinate” Poland – or the “Polish faction” of PiS.

The opposition, however, warns that if PiS wins another third term it will continue the erosion of democracy, rule of law, and media freedom that have been documented by many domestic international organisations and experts over its eight years in power.

Main image credit: Jakub Porzycki / Agencja Wyborcza.pl

Daniel Tilles

Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland. He has written on Polish affairs for a wide range of publications, including Foreign Policy, POLITICO Europe, EUobserver and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.