Kaczynski’s influence: why Poland doesn’t want patriot systems

First it was “yes”, then “no”: In Poland, the government is at odds over whether it wants to accept the Patriot air defense system offered by Germany – or whether it should go to Ukraine. The volte bears Kaczynski’s signature.

Many political experts have followed the Polish reactions to the Patriot anti-aircraft systems offered by Germany with great astonishment. “It really seemed as if this opportunity could not be missed,” wrote Piotr Buras of the “European Council on Foreign Relations” on Twitter. “But our leaders have found a way.”

And Buras was not the only one who watched in amazement as Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blasczak first announced that the offer to station German Patriot anti-aircraft missiles in Poland would be gladly accepted – only to make a 180-degree turn shortly afterwards . Germany should rather offer the missiles to Ukraine.

There was an interview between acceptance and rejection

From a military point of view, the best way to protect Polish territory is to station these missiles on Ukrainian territory at a certain distance from the border, said Polish President Andrzej Duda. “Then they would most effectively protect both Ukraine and Poland.”

Between acceptance and rejection was an interview with Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the chairman of the ruling PiS party. Kaczynski said it might be better to deliver the missiles to Ukraine. After that, the attitude of the Foreign Minister, the Prime Minister and President Duda also changed.

However, the head of Duda’s presidential office, Pawel Szrot, said: “For the president, as the guardian of the security of Poland and its citizens, this security of Poles and Polish territory is the most important thing.” Of course, the president supports Ukraine and the delivery of military supplies there, “but I repeat, the president is the president of Poland.”

Was Duda simply not asked?

This can be interpreted as if Duda would have liked to see the German patriot system in Poland, but was simply not asked. Especially since the president later declared via Twitter: If the Germans did not agree to the Ukraine proposal, the Patriot missiles should be brought to Poland.

In any case, the opposition cannot believe it. The political volte bears too clearly the handwriting of Jaroslaw Kaczynski – the “over-president”, the “over-premier”, as Gregorz Schetyna, the former chairman of the largest opposition party PO, calls him. “Kaczynski declares Germany an evil power and now we are told that we will not accept the Patriot missiles, which are essential for our security because they come from Germany.”

“Gazeta Wyborcza”: “Treason or stupidity?”

The commentators in the Polish newspapers agree that it wasn’t an oversight or a diplomatic blunder. “Treason or stupidity?” asks the left-liberal “Gazeta Wyborcza”. But the much more conservative Rzeczpospolita also comments that Warsaw knows very well that the German patriots will also be joined by Bundeswehr soldiers. Sending them to Ukraine would be direct involvement of NATO troops in the war, so that won’t happen. The PiS have crossed a red line and are sacrificing Polish security in favor of their own election campaign.

Media closer to the PiS find – unsurprisingly – another culprit. “Wpolityce” asks: “Was the German offer meant seriously at all?” If you really wanted to support Poland, it says, Berlin could release the blocked EU funds.

But they are being held back by the EU Commission. Not because of the war, but because of the Polish government’s interference with the independence of the courts.