Poland’s Nationalist Government Accuses Germany of Meddling in Its Affairs Ahead of Election

Headline: Poland’s Nationalist Government Accuses Germany of Meddling in Its Affairs Ahead of Election

Subheadline: In the run-up to Poland’s October 15 election, Poland’s ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has accused Germany of trying to influence Polish government policy on various issues, including migration and gas, stoking tensions between the two NATO allies.

Poland’s nationalist government, aiming for an unprecedented third term in office, has aimed at Germany, its NATO ally and largest trading partner, in the lead-up to the country’s October 15 election. The ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, facing a close race, has accused Germany of attempting to dictate Polish government policy on matters such as migration and gas.

This feud between Poland and Germany has strained the broader European alliance’s support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s invasion, leading to the collapse of a plan for a joint Polish-German tank repair facility for the benefit of Kyiv. PiS leaders have also alleged that Germany is plotting to help elect the liberal former prime minister Donald Tusk, PiS’s main electoral opponent, back to power.

PiS has tapped into the lingering mistrust towards Germany among some segments of the Polish electorate, particularly among older conservatives who still remember the devastation of World War II. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki accused the opposition of having its campaign program published in German newspapers, portraying Tusk as a German puppet, and criticizing Merkel’s successor, Olaf Scholz.

These months-long disputes between Poland and Germany have strained the unity of the Western alliance, particularly the support for Ukraine after the Russian invasion. They also come at a time when other issues, such as the election of a pro-Russian leader in EU member state Slovakia, are posing further threats to cohesion within the alliance.

The ongoing dispute has already had an impact on efforts to assist Ukraine. In April, the defence ministers of Germany and Poland announced the creation of a joint hub in Poland to repair German-made Leopard tanks damaged in battle in Ukraine, but the deal fell apart. Another dispute arose when Warsaw resisted a German offer to station Patriot missile air defence units in Poland, though they eventually agreed.

U.S. General Ben Hodges, who commanded U.S. Army forces in Europe from 2014 to 2017, expressed concern over the public and harsh criticism of Germany by Poland. He emphasized that this could strain the relationship between two NATO allies and, in turn, impact the overall cohesion of NATO.

The joint tank repair plant would have been a collaboration between German manufacturers Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall, as well as the Polish defence conglomerate Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ). Disagreements over costs and reluctance to share technical information were cited as reasons for the deal’s failure.

Polish-German relations have soured significantly in recent years, with only 47% of Poles considering them good, down from 72% in 2020, according to a German-Polish barometer poll. Many Poles feel that Germany has not done enough to compensate for the damage caused during World War II. PiS has even called on Germany to pay over 1 trillion euros in reparations, a demand that Germany has rejected.

While some analysts believe that the heated rhetoric between Poland and Germany might subside after the elections, irritants on both sides, including migration issues, are likely to persist.

Scholz’s government has largely ignored PiS’s attacks, choosing to tread cautiously to avoid inadvertently provoking Poland. However, the ongoing tensions raise concerns about the unity and cooperation within NATO.

As the elections draw closer, observers hope for a resolution to the tensions between the two countries to maintain a united front in support of Ukraine and ensure the continued stability of the Western alliance.