The Polish Sejm on Friday passed legislation implementing the European Union’s SAFE program, a framework designed to bolster European defense capabilities through joint procurement and increased investment in arms manufacturing. The vote came amid sharp criticism from opposition parties, including PiS and Konfederacja, who denounced the measure as detrimental to Poland’s security interests.
The law establishes a fund, managed by the Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK), to facilitate the allocation of funds from the SAFE program. 236 lawmakers voted in favor of the bill, while 199 opposed it, with four abstentions. The governing coalition – comprising Civic Coalition, The Left, Polish People’s Party, and Poland 2050 – supported the legislation.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk swiftly condemned the opposition’s vote, stating via social media that PiS and Konfederacja had voted “against the security of Poland, against a modern army, against the Polish arms industry.” He characterized their opposition as a betrayal of Polish independence.
Finance Minister Andrzej Domański, speaking prior to the vote, emphasized the potential economic benefits of the program, estimating savings of between 36 and 60 billion złoty and an acceleration of the modernization of the Polish armed forces. He stated bluntly, “Anyone who votes against the SAFE program is either a fool or a traitor to Poland’s interests.”
Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz described the vote as “one of the most important in the history of the modernization of the armed forces.” He stressed that the SAFE program was not a set of externally imposed projects or contractors, but rather a response to the specific needs of the Polish military. Kosiniak-Kamysz asserted that accessing funds through SAFE was “not an obligation, but a success, a victory and a privilege for those who are great and brave.” He added, “Sovereignty is not defended by your slogans. Sovereignty is defended by the strength of the Polish army.”
Recent reports indicate tensions between Poland and the United States following remarks by the U.S. Ambassador regarding former President Donald Trump and the possibility of a Nobel Peace Prize. According to The Hill, Prime Minister Tusk chided the ambassador over the comments, though this issue appears separate from the SAFE program vote.
The passage of the SAFE program legislation follows a recent meeting of Poland’s National Security Council, which, according to xyz.pl, sparked political debate.
As of Friday evening, opposition leaders have demanded a vote of confidence in the government, calling for a “technical government” following the recent presidential election, as reported by Notes From Poland. Prime Minister Tusk is expected to call for the confidence vote in the coming days.
