Tusk: 'Polexit' a Real Threat to Poland
Prime Minister Donald Tusk has warned that Poland's exit from the European Union is becoming a "real threat," blaming the Law and Justice party (PiS), the Confederation party, and President Nawrocki for pushing the country towards disaster. The alarm was raised after Nawrocki vetoed a law on access to €43.7 billion from the SAFE program.
„Polexit to dziś realne zagrożenie"
Prime Minister Donald Tusk sounded the alarm on Saturday, March 15, 2026. He wrote directly on the X platform: „Polexit to dzisiaj realne zagrożenie! Pragną go obie konfederacje i większość PiS." He added that President Karol Nawrocki is their patron, and appealed to Poles: „Zrobię wszystko, żeby ich powstrzymać."
The head of government's words sparked a political storm in the country. Although Poland is among the largest beneficiaries of EU funds, and its economy is deeply intertwined with the European market, the debate about a possible exit from the EU has taken on a new, dangerous dynamic.
Weto Nawrockiego iskrą sporu
The direct impetus for Tusk's statement was President Nawrocki's veto of a law enabling Poland to benefit from the European arms program SAFE. This instrument has a budget of €150 billion, of which Poland could receive as much as 43,7 miliarda euro for the modernization of the army and defense.
Nawrocki justified the decision with concern for the sovereignty and security of the state, claiming that he would not sign acts undermining these values. His entourage — presidential advisor Przydacz — retorted that the Prime Minister's words were a "campaign tactic calculated to polarize," and that criticizing the EU does not equate to seeking to leave it.
KO MP Niezgodzka did not share this calm — she stated that the veto creates "grounds for Polexit." Former Minister for European Affairs Konrad Szymański warned that the Polish nationalist right is treading "the path to Polexit," comparing the current situation to the political dynamics preceding Brexit in 2016.
Zewnętrzni aktorzy i szczyt UE
Tusk pointed to a broader geopolitical context. In his opinion, three forces are behind the dismantling of the EU: Russia, the American MAGA movement, and the European right with Viktor Orbán at its head. The Prime Minister stressed that Poland cannot allow itself to become a pawn in this game.
The Prime Minister's statement coincided with preparations for the European Union summit scheduled for 19–20 marca w Brukseli, where, among other things, defense issues and the financing of the continent's security are to be discussed — topics in which the Polish veto of the SAFE program is directly relevant.
Gospodarcze stawki Polexitu
Poland is the largest net beneficiary of EU funds. From joining the EU in 2004 to 2025, the country received a total of approximately 161,9 miliarda euro net. In 2026 alone, a record PLN 180 billion from European funds is expected to flow into Poland.
The economic consequences of Polexit would be dramatic: over 75 procent polskiego eksportu goes to the EU market, and the return of trade barriers could reduce GDP growth by 1–3 percentage points per year — analysts estimate. Nevertheless, support for leaving the EU is growing: according to an OGB poll from January 2026, 24.5 percent of Poles are already in favor of Polexit, compared to just 6.7 percent in 2019.
Gra o przyszłość Polski w Europie
Tusk's alarm is part of the ongoing presidential campaign and growing tensions between the government and the president. Regardless of political calculations, the stakes are real: membership in the EU is not only a symbolic anchor for Poland, but a foundation of prosperity and security. The question of whether the Prime Minister's warning will mobilize citizens or only deepen polarization remains open.
