Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, speaking from the podium of the Sejm on Wednesday, warned against the rise of xenophobic sentiments in Poland toward Ukrainians and people of other origins, including those working in Polish government agencies.
During his speech in the Sejm, the head of the Polish government criticized remarks made by right-wing politicians and certain Polish journalists regarding Andrzej Szeptycki, the Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education in the current Polish government, who is of partial Ukrainian descent, according to a Ukrinform correspondent.
During his speech, Tusk quoted the well-known Polish journalist Dorota Gawryluk, who stated on Polsat News a few days ago: “I wonder how it is possible that a person of Ukrainian origin who represents Ukrainian interests is a deputy minister in the Polish government [Andrzej Szeptycki].”
According to the prime minister, such statements are gradually creating a dangerous trend in which people are judged not by their professional qualities and loyalty to the state, but by their nationality.
“From such isolated incidents, isolated insults, and media statements, a wave is beginning to form that not only demeans decent, honest, and patriotic Poles but also becomes dangerous to the very essence of Poland,” Tusk emphasized.
