Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk issued a strong warning on Friday to nationalist vigilantes who have taken to patrolling the German border, declaring their actions both illegal and disruptive. This statement comes as Tusk’s government navigates rising tensions along the frontier and within its ruling coalition.
The prime minister’s remarks were prompted by Warsaw’s recent decision to reinstate temporary border checks with Germany and Lithuania, which will take effect from July 7. This action was justified by the government due to an unverified increase in migrants reportedly being returned by German authorities.
Vigilantes disrupt border security
In recent days, self-identified “citizen patrols,” reportedly numbering in the hundreds, have formed on the Polish side of the border, asserting their role in preventing the return of migrants sent back by Berlin. These developments are politically charged and could exert additional pressure on Tusk’s already fragile centrist coalition. While the government has urged these vigilantes to return home, President-elect Karol Nawrocki, a conservative nationalist, has expressed support for their actions.
“Only the Border Guard has the right to control our borders,”
stated government spokesperson Adam Szłapka following an urgent security meeting in Warsaw. “Anyone impersonating officers or hindering their work will face consequences.” Videos circulating on social media depict masked individuals halting vehicles, demanding identification, and attempting so-called “citizen arrests” of those they suspect of entering illegally. Regional officials have cautioned that these activities may constitute impersonating public authority and introduce significant risks to public safety.
Political ramifications and coalition tensions
Tusk criticized the political supporters of these groups, including certain opposition lawmakers, labeling their behavior as “shameful and scandalous.” In sharp contrast, Nawrocki praised far-right activist Robert Bąkiewicz, one of the organizers of these patrols, commending what he termed a “citizen-led defense of the border.” Critics argue that such comments risk granting legitimacy to these self-appointed patrols.
The decision to enforce border closures was strategically aimed at allowing Tusk to project a sense of strength during a particularly vulnerable period for his administration. Following a humiliating defeat in the recent presidential election, where Tusk-endorsed candidate Rafał Trzaskowski lost to Nawrocki, the prime minister is under increasing pressure to reassert his authority. This electoral setback has significantly shaken the coalition that brought Tusk to power in 2023 and has emboldened his partners to explore alternative options.
Signals of growing discord within the coalition have emerged, with junior partners such as parliamentary Speaker Szymon Hołownia reportedly meeting privately with PiS lawmaker Adam Bielan and even PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński, stirring speculations of behind-the-scenes political maneuvering.
Despite these challenges, Tusk’s team maintains that the prime minister is firmly in control. A cabinet reshuffle is anticipated later this month, a move viewed in Warsaw as a critical test of Tusk’s ability to regain authority within his fractious coalition.