The former deputy minister is the first political refugee from Donald Tusk's Poland, but others might follow.Continue reading
“Relations between the Polish and Hungarian governments are currently very difficult. However, this is not true for relations between people, students and scientists from both countries,” said János Bóka, Hungarian Minister for European Union Affairs, in an interview with Jacek Karnowski published on the website of Polish magazine wPolityce.
Asked about the current Polish government’s reaction to Hungary granting political asylum to former Deputy Minister of Justice Marcin Romanowski, János Bóka said that the story the Polish politician told him about what was going on in Poland worried him. “Of course, I am not competent to assess the ongoing criminal proceedings and their substance. The only issue that the Hungarian government assessed was whether there was a realistic possibility that he would not be treated fairly and neutrally during the trial. Looking at this particular case, I believe that these concerns have solid grounds.”
❓How long will Brussels remain silent about the rule of law in Poland?
While all possible means of the #ruleoflaw toolbox have been used against #Hungary, @EU_Commission remains deeply silent in the case of #Poland.
➡️ @RomanowskiPL, who received political asylum in… pic.twitter.com/LNWhzA0BxE
— Bóka János (@JanosBoka_HU) January 20, 2025
Speaking about “globalist forces”, Minister Bóka stated that the current practice is that Brussels, or the European People’s Party (EPP), chooses someone they think fits the bill. Then, with the aim of putting that person in power, they exert legal, financial and political pressure on inconvenient governments to make it easier for their own candidate to come to power. “Once that is done, the new leadership gets a free hand from Brussels, and they can do whatever they want with the political opposition. In return, they just have to follow the suggestions they are given, give up bits and pieces of sovereignty. Brussels has a blank check that they can use at any time. We see that in Poland, and believe me, we do not want to see that in Hungary,” he emphasized.
Speaking about the EU funds and the current political situation in Poland, János Bóka pointed out that when he looks at what is happening in Poland, he sees that the current government has been given access to EU funds in no time, while the European Commission is silent about the events going on there. He added that at the same time, he knows how closely Hungary is being watched, with the EU analyzing what the government does and does not do, and emphasized that no one can say that this is an objective or neutral evaluation process.
This is just about political and ideological pressure, I have no doubts about that.”
Asked about Péter Magyar, leader of the opposition Tisza party, and whether he could win the elections next year and become prime minister, like Donald Tusk did with outside support, Mr Bóka made a comparison. “If they can relate to the metaphor of a train that supposedly goes from Warsaw to Budapest… The train certainly left Warsaw, but it will never reach Budapest. The scenario is indeed the same. They chose someone who fits the bill for prime minister, someone who wants to cooperate, fulfilling Brussels’ wish list, giving up bits of national sovereignty. Now they are throwing all their resources at him, betting everything on him, in every field. However, my experience tells me that Hungarian voters do not like being told by someone from outside who to vote for,” he stated.
The Warsaw Express will never arrive to Budapest
The concept is that #Brussels, or the @EPP, chooses someone who they think fits their objectives. Then, in order to bring that person to power, they put pressure on governments not friendly to them.
Once this is done, the new… https://t.co/e4Q1w7DePn
— Bóka János (@JanosBoka_HU) March 3, 2025
Speaking about the currently difficult Polish-Hungarian relationship, he recalled that the relationship between the two countries goes back centuries. He added that our strategic interests in the European Union are very close, starting from cohesion policy, through agriculture, energy, transport, migration. Referring to the Ukraine war, on which matter Poland and Hungary do not see eye to eye, the Minister said that Hungary knows who the aggressor is and and who was attacked, and stands on the side of Ukrainian sovereignty. “The differences concern the answer to the question of whether it is time to cease hostilities and start meaningful peace talks. From the very beginning, we have believed that this conflict will not be resolved on the battlefield, and that time is working against us. The ongoing war is harming us, harming Europe, its economy, and strategic interests. But from a geopolitical strategy perspective, from a moral and legal perspective, there are no differences between us,” he stated.
Mr Bóka emphasized that Europe desperately needs change, and if it does not change, it will lose the chance to remain a global player. In his view, the EU has failed in terms of economic competitiveness, immigration and agriculture.
At the same time, there will be no real change in policy without new leaders, new political forces. We need a renewed alliance between the European Union and the people of Europe. Now there is an opportunity, we must seize it.”
He added that the Union needs strategic autonomy, but it will not achieve this goal if it does not define its own strategic goals, and does not have the tools to implement them.
Regarding the Migration Pact, he reminded that Hungary’s position is clear: we will simply not implement it. He said that the country is already being punished for refusing to sign the pact, but despite this, “we will continue to guard the southern border of the European Union. The number of illegal immigrants crossing our borders is exactly zero. And since that is the case, we ourselves do not accept any illegal immigrants from other countries. We expect the Union to focus on real, innovative solutions. I mean immigration centers outside the borders of the Union. This would allow only those who receive permission to enter the EU. Without this, the EU migration policy will never start working. The migration pact is not the solution, it is part of the problem”, he concluded.
Via wPolitcye, Featured photo via Facebook/Bóka János
