Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is facing accusations of hypocrisy and political opportunism after supporting a policy to restrict social benefits for refugees, including Ukrainians. This proposal closely mirrors one already put forward by the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, fueling claims that the government is now adopting the very policies it once criticized.
The PiS’s plan seeks to limit the “800 plus” child benefit—a monthly payment of 800 zlotys (€190) per child—to families that work and pay taxes in Poland. Tusk’s endorsement of a similar measure, following a rally by his party’s presidential candidate, Rafał Trzaskowski, has drawn ire, with PiS parliamentary leader Mariusz Błaszczak pointing out that their proposal came first.
PiS MEP Joachim Brudziński mocked Tusk’s sudden change of heart, recalling how Tusk once passionately argued for open borders, especially in the case of migrants brought in by Belarusian President Lukashenko. Back then, Tusk described the migrants as “poor people seeking a better life” who should be welcomed. Today, however, Tusk supports stronger border protections, citing security concerns.
The controversy also highlights the EU’s double standards. When the PiS government took similar actions on migration, Brussels withheld billions in funding over alleged “rule-of-law issues.” Yet Tusk, a former European Council chief and ally of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, has not faced similar scrutiny, despite his left-liberal government proposing much stricter immigration policies. While the EU has continued to support Tusk, many are questioning whether the bloc’s favoritism toward its political allies is undermining its credibility.
