Poland’s Morawiecki slams new rival following US criticism

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has criticised Michał Kołodziejczak, the leader of the leading farmers’ movement-turned-political party which joined the opposition Civic Coalition (KO) electoral bloc last week, calling him an agent or an idiot after his comments about the US.

Kołodziejczak’s AgroUnia joining forces with the strongest opposition bloc caused trouble for the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party ahead of the elections in October, as PiS (ECR) and AgroUnia are keen to win over the rural electorate. The situation is all the more problematic given that Kołodziejczak, now a fierce critic of the PiS, was briefly a member of the current ruling party.

Following the announcement that Kołodziejczak will be running as a candidate for KO (EPP) in the upcoming parliamentary elections, PiS intensified its attacks on him.

“During the communist times, we used to call such individuals ‘idiots’ or ‘agents’,” Morawiecki said in his party’s newest TV spot, referring to the decades of communist rule

PiS tried to portray Kołodziejczak as either stupid or a servant of Russian interests – referring to an old statement where he held Washington responsible for the conflict between Poland and Russia, urging everyone to tell the US not to get involved.

PiS did not provide the context of this statement, though it is possible it was prompted by the embargo Moscow imposed on Polish food products, which significantly hampered the situation for those farmers for whom Russia used to be a key market.

Kołodziejczak responded to Morawiecki’s attack, saying the prime minister was afraid to lose to the biggest opposition bloc. But Polish people are not stupid, he tweeted.

To explain his position, he also posted a picture with US Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski and noted that the statement was from five years ago, adding that today “there is no doubt” about the need for Poland to cooperate with the US and the EU.

The 35-year-old potato grower founded the AgroUnia farmer activist movement in 2018. The movement soon became famous for mass protests against the government’s food policy.

In recent months, a new wave of anger sparked amid the uncontrolled inflow of Ukrainian grain to Poland. AgroUnia accused the government of neglecting the problem for too long – a problem Kołodziejczak and his fellow activists pointed out as early as the summer of 2022.

“PiS flaked out on farmers,” he told EURACTIV.pl earlier this year, adding that the grain issue is only one of many in which the ruling camp failed to support the agricultural sector.

Many opposition politicians are worried about Kołodziejczak joining KO, fearing that his cooperation with stronger partners is just for him to enter parliament and possibly even assume the post of agriculture minister – a feat that would be very unlikely were AgroUnia to run alone as the party while being popular with farmers, currently only enjoys the support of 2% of the wider electorate.

Many have also accused Kołodziejczak of hypocrisy, noting that it was not so long ago that he was as critical of KO leader Donald Tusk as he is now of PiS. Tusk himself, explaining his decision to welcome AgroUnia in KO, cited agreement on “fundamental issues”.

While Kołodziejczak says he knows that joining the Civic Coalition’s electoral list is a “risky” decision, some experts believe it may not enhance his popularity among the farmers. Media reported about AgroUnia activists burning flags and jackets the movement’s logo and calling Kołodziejczak “a Judas.”

Parliamentary elections will take place on 15 October. With nearly 34% of support, PiS is on its best way to secure its third consecutive term in power, while KO is currently polling second with 27%.

(Aleksandra Krzysztoszek | EURACTIV.pl)