Presidential hopeful vows to defend Polish farmers against 'unfair competition from Ukraine’
Karol Nawrocki, a right-wing candidate in Poland’s upcoming presidential election, has said he will not allow Ukrainian competition to harm Polish farmers or transport companies if elected to the country’s top office.
Karol NawrockiWojciech Kusiński/Polskie Radio
Speaking on Sunday in the southeastern city of Przemyśl, Nawrocki declared: „When I am president of Poland, I will not agree to Polish farmers, Polish agricultural holdings or Polish transport companies suffering as a result of unfair competition from Ukraine.”
Nawrocki is currently the head of Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance, a state research body also responsible for investigating crimes against the nation.
He is running with the backing of the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, which was in government from 2015 until 2023.
The candidate made his remarks during a public debate on the development of the Podkarpacie region, held in Przemyśl following the conclusion of the Europe of the Carpathians conference, a long-running forum for regional cooperation.
In his comments, Nawrocki emphasised the need to continue supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia, saying that it is in Poland’s interest „for Russia to be as weak as possible, and for Ukraine to be as strong as possible.”
’Not at the cost of Polish agriculture’
However, he expressed concern about the impact of a new European Union–Ukraine trade agreement, due to take effect in June.
Nawrocki warned that the planned changes could ease existing restrictions, posing „a threat” to some Polish sectors.
“I am honestly worried,” he said. “Solidarity, yes. Cooperation, yes. Keep the Muscovy as far from Poland as possible. Let Ukraine be strong enough to deal with Russia. But not at the cost of Polish agriculture.”
Nawrocki also addressed Poland’s role in the European Union, arguing that the country should engage through „existing cooperation formats”—such as the Bucharest Nine group of eastern NATO members, the Europe of the Carpathians initiative, and the Three Seas Initiative, which promotes infrastructure and energy links between Central and Eastern European countries—rather than „constructing new EU security structures.”
He criticised what he called the European Union’s overreach in domestic matters.
Nawrocki concluded by saying he believes the European Union „now needs reform.”
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR/PAP
