The choice made by the Polish people in the presidential elections was not welcomed by the Brussels oligarchy, especially German politicians, who mobilized the media — including German-owned Polish-language outlets. And it wasn’t just about criticism: soon after Karol Nawrocki’s election, some Western media began insinuating that EU funds for Poland should be frozen if the new president did not approve all the EU’s desired legislation. Among those issuing such threats was a young German MEP, Moritz Körner. This is yet another interference in Poland’s political life by German politicians.

It’s worth recalling that when Poland was governed by the conservative PiS party (2015–2023), the EU elites could not tolerate that the country resisted Brussels’ pressure and defended national interests. Back in 2020, German MEP Katarina Barley demanded more pressure on Hungary and Poland to enforce the so-called “rule of law,” saying: “Countries like Poland and Hungary must be starved with financial pressure. EU subsidies are an effective lever.” And indeed, EU funds were withheld from Poland under the PiS government.

The EU establishment’s decisive interference came ahead of Poland’s 2023 parliamentary elections. Manfred Weber, president of the European People’s Party (EPP), stated in a Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung interview: “We are building a firewall. We are the only force that can replace PiS in Poland and bring the country back to Europe.” Following this statement, Marek Jakubiak, secretary general of the KUKIZ15 party, commented: “EPP president Manfred Weber openly admitted that Tusk returned to Poland from Brussels to seize power in the interest of the German Fourth Reich he calls ‘Europe’.”

Even European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen intervened, expressing her preference for Donald Tusk. When Tusk left the presidency of the EPP and returned to Poland to run for elections, she said: “Next time we meet, you will be Prime Minister.”

In this way, German politicians used every tool — including EU structures — to secure the election of Poland’s most pro-German prime minister in decades. But they didn’t stop there: in order to fully control Poland, they also wanted “their” president. As a result, European mainstream media and Polish-language media owned by Germans, such as the large web portal ONET, launched a massive campaign in support of Civic Platform’s Rafal Trzaskowski, Tusk’s deputy, while dishonestly discrediting conservative candidate Karol Nawrocki.

Neither the German political establishment nor German media accepted the Polish people’s choice. Even after the elections, attacks on President-elect Nawrocki continue. On one hand, his reputation is under constant assault with accusations of alleged electoral fraud; on the other hand, there are renewed threats — as during the PiS years — of “starving Poland” by cutting off EU funds for having chosen the “wrong” president.

Germany is once again interfering in Poland’s fate: they did it when they partitioned Poland for 123 years alongside Tsarist Russia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire; they did it again during World War II, occupying the country, destroying it, and killing six million Poles; and now they want to impose pro-German rulers on Poland. For this reason, Körner’s threats particularly outraged Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Polish MEP and former Deputy Foreign Minister, who also served as the government’s plenipotentiary for war reparations from Germany.

I spoke with Mr. Mularczyk about this issue.

As someone who deeply understands the harm Germany inflicted on Poland, how did you react to Moritz Körner’s threats?

His statement was extremely arrogant. I couldn’t let it pass, so I personally handed Mr. Körner the report on the damage inflicted on Poland by Germany during World War II.

Why do German politicians adopt this attitude toward Poland?

German politicians still believe they can treat Poland as a junior partner — a subordinate country where they decide who the prime minister should be and how Poles should vote. If Poles vote “wrong,” they will be punished. This attitude requires a firm response. I constantly remind the Germans that they owe a huge, unresolved debt to Poland and have no moral right to lecture us. But we are dealing with utterly cynical politicians who support Polish politicians like Donald Tusk and his coalition, which for over a year has been implementing an economic and historical policy favorable to Germany.

Mr. Körner is a young politician. Doesn’t he know history?

Many young German politicians in their 30s and 40s believe Germany has overcome its past and don’t see any link between history and current politics. That’s why they feel entitled to lecture others.

You led the Council of the Institute for War Losses. How were the damages caused by Germany assessed?

Under the previous conservative PiS government, Poland demanded compensation from Germany for material and immaterial damages, which were calculated in 2022 at 6.22 trillion PLN — around €1.3 trillion at the time. However, the German government insists the matter of war reparations is closed and has no intention of entering into negotiations.