Poland will not accept refugees: ruling party leader

Law and Justice leader Jarosław Kaczyński also said that Poland would oppose European Commission proposals that would see EU member states having to pay EUR 250,000 per refugee if they refuse to accept their share of asylum-seekers.

Answering questions from internet users, Kaczyński said: “After recent events connected with acts of terror will not accept refugees because there is no mechanism that would ensure security.

“This is the position of the prime minister and the whole of PiS.”

Kaczyński also addressed the migration crisis buffeting Europe in a Law and Justice broadcast on YouTube on Saturday entitled "A Strong Poland in Europe."

He said: "As PiS, from the beginning we felt that this issue should be resolved, assisting refugees outside the EU.

“Politicians from the current opposition not so long ago claimed that Poland is able to accept any number of refugees. Those who are marching today - supposedly in defence of democracy - wanted to impose on us the forced acceptance of immigrants," he added, referring to Saturday’s anti-government protest in Warsaw.

Kaczyński also referred to recent European Commission proposals that could see EU member states face huge fines if they refuse to accept their share of asylum-seekers.

He said: "Such a decision would abolish the sovereignty of EU member states - of course, the weaker ones.

“We don’t agree to that, we have to oppose that, because we are and we will be in charge in our own country.”

The Polish government has sent out various messages on the issue of taking in asylum-seekers in recent months, on one occasion stating that the intake of refugees would be stalled, and later appearing to indicate the process was open again. (pk)

Source: PAP