In an interview aired on Sunday on a US political affairs program, Poland’s President Andrzej Duda criticized the influx of immigrants to Europe, claiming that many arrive with the expectation of receiving free benefits.
Duda’s comments come amid allegations from Warsaw that Moscow has been involved in smuggling thousands of individuals from Africa into Europe. According to the accusations, these migrants are flown to Russia and then transported to the Polish border via Belarus.
In his interview with conservative news host Sharyl Attkisson on Sinclair Television’s “Full Measure,” Duda expressed disapproval of the notion that immigrants might expect to stay in Poland without contributing economically. “If someone comes to Poland with the mistaken belief that they can stay here and receive everything for free without working, we do not agree with such arrivals,” he stated.
When asked by Attkisson whether many people are arriving in Europe with the expectation of a free ride, Duda affirmed, “yes.” He added that this situation is prevalent, which explains the strong reaction from Western European countries.
Since the summer of 2021, there has been a significant number of migrants and refugees, primarily from the Middle East, attempting to cross the border between Belarus and Poland. Belarus, an ally of Russia, has been accused by Poland of using the border as a means to destabilize the region through hybrid attacks.
In response to the increased border activity, Warsaw announced in May that it would invest over 2.3 billion euros ($2.5 billion) to strengthen its eastern border with Belarus. This fortification effort follows a fatal incident in June, where a Polish soldier was stabbed through a five-meter-high (16-foot) metal fence erected in 2022. The Polish military has also reported other attacks on its border troops.
