By Aleksandra Krzysztoszek (Focus Europe, Warsaw)

Statements by Polish opposition leader Jarosław Kaczyński regarding possible negotiations on Poland’s withdrawal from the EU have sparked strong reactions. Prime Minister Donald Tusk speaks of a high-stakes political battle. The PiS chairman, for his part, has responded with sharp accusations.

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At the 2026 Krynica Forum, Jarosław Kaczyński had spoken out in favor of a fundamental reform of the European Union. As possible ways to bring about change, he cited influencing public opinion and concluding a new treaty, the entry into force of which would be postponed to a later date.
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“The European Union must be changed. That is my deep conviction. It is the conviction of my political group, but I believe it is also the conviction of a very large number of Poles,” said Kaczyński.

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He also referred to the possibility of initiating negotiations on Poland’s withdrawal from the European Union if the other methods of bringing change proved ineffective.

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“In the final provisions of the Treaty on European Union and later also in the provisions on the functioning of the European Union, there are rules that specify the conditions under which a state may withdraw from the European Union,” he said.

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“It all starts with negotiations. We would simply have to begin these negotiations. It’s a tough, risky approach. But the situation is truly so bad—so exceptionally bad—that it’s worth resorting to such a method if the others fail,” Kaczyński explained.

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Tusk announces fierce battle

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Prime Minister Donald Tusk responded to Kaczyński's remarks today, Thursday. “Jarosław Kaczyński has just announced that Poland should begin negotiations on the terms of exiting the European Union. This is one of the stakes, among others, in the battle unfolding in Poland today. A tough battle.” Tusk wrote on Platform X.

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“I do not intend to lose it, even if not everyone plays along with me,” he added.

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Kaczyński: “Tusk is lying”

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Kaczyński also answered X: “Tusk is lying as usual. He apparently operates on the assumption that a day without a lie is a day wasted… ”

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At the same time, he insisted that his party is not calling for withdrawal from the European Union, but rather for its fundamental reform. “The European Union is needed, but it requires fundamental reform,” he explained.

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In his view, “the crisis and decline” of the EU in its current form are the result of the tenure of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and one of her aides, Tusk, who served as President of the European Council from 2014 to 2019.

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EU reform based on the PiS’s vision

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“We want the European Union to benefit not the elites, but above all ordinary citizens. That is why I am calling for a fundamental reform,” Kaczyński continued.

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He explained that he meant a reform of the Union that would “give us a truly democratic European Union focused on improving citizens’ living conditions, lower energy prices, greater security, a responsible migration policy, and ambitious economic and agricultural policies—without unnecessary bureaucracy.”

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“We will do it. We will restore the European Union to the citizens. A great opportunity is emerging, and we won’t give it up because of Tusk’s lies,” Kaczyński assured. “And if someone wants a Europe without the Union, then let them perpetuate this growing, chaotic crisis that is destroying the citizens of European states…” he concluded his post.

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Przemysław Czarnek, who was put forward by the PiS as a candidate for the office of prime minister, made even stronger remarks. At a press conference, he was asked whether his party was considering a scenario in which Poland would leave the European Union.

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“We are considering all options, including the possibility that the European Union will bring about its own downfall,” Czarnek replied. He explained that, in its current form and with its current mode of operation, the EU is leading Europe “astray.” While various solutions must be considered, he said, changes to the way the Union functions should take priority.

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“We must consider every solution,” he said. He pointed to the need to “change the face of the European Union, to reform the EU—through structural reforms and reforms of governance within the EU.”

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This article was written by the diplo.news partner editorial team in Warsaw: Focus Europe Poland

Link to the original text in Polish: Tusk uderza w Kaczyńskiego po jego słowach o UE. „Nie zamierzam przegrać”