The European Union, a guarantor of peace between Western and Central European countries, is becoming the mark of attacks by nationalists. origin – Wikimedia Commons. Author – Santeri Viinamäki.The narratives about Polexit and the "defence of tradition", appearing, among others, in the messages of Grzegorz Braun and the Confederation of the Polish Crown, powerfully affect emotions, although frequently based on simplifications. Data from fresh years show a different image of reality: more complex, without sensational contrasts and indicating real challenges and improvement opportunities facing Poland. Why do utmost groups care about strong emotions, and how does this aid them to win voices?
Populist slogans about the alleged threat of conventional Catholic values by “depraved” The West is nothing new. Under this heading, there is usually opposition to the enhancement of human rights, greater cultural inclusion, respect for number rights or the beginning of borders for migrants. Right-wing populists call the enemy everything fresh and foreign. Today, 1 specified "enemies" has become the European Union, which is accused of being deprived of their sovereignty under the guise of economical cooperation between countries. The question is, do we truly have anything to fear?
Does Poland request a Union?
The fact that the European Union becomes an easy mark of populist attacks inactive has a low cognition of its functioning and of the real benefits of Poland. Apart from the common marketplace and open borders, these are, above all, crucial financial resources that drive the improvement of the country. Since its entry into the EU in 2004 until the end of 2023, Poland has received EUR 245,5 billion, while it has only contributed EUR 83.7 billion. European funds account for about 2.1% of Polish GDP and influence the improvement of infrastructure, enterprises or local governments. At the same time abroad investors were increasingly willing to invest their capital in Poland. Direct abroad Investments in 2003-2020 accounted for about 3.4% of GDP, and the investment value increased from 67 billion in 2004 to 360 billion in late 2023. In 2021 Poland was 1 of the largest beneficiaries of transfers from the EU budget.
The Crown grows stronger
The Confederation of the Polish Crown was established in 2019; its founder and president is Grzegorz Braun. "Our slogans are: Faith, household and property, and we all effort to do Ad Maior Dei Gloriam--to the greater glory of God. We are supporters of conventional hierarchy and values," the group says. In practice, its communicative is mainly composed by xenophobia, anti-Semitism, utmost nationalism and aggressive Euroscepticism. Braun builds his popularity primarily on extremist happenings and aggressive, polarizing language that goes to his constituents. At the time of Braun's speeches, there were incidents of burning the EU flag, removing the Ukrainian flag from office, destroying the Christmas tree decorated with symbols related to the EU and Ukraine, or, for example, extinguishing the Khanuk candle in the Sejm.
The increase in support for Braun and the Crown could be seen during the parliamentary elections in 2023, erstwhile together with the fresh Hope of Sławomir Mentzen and the National Movement of Krzysztof Bosak, as an electoral committee of the Confederation of Freedom and independency won 7.16% of the vote. The mandate was given to 4 members of the KKP: Grzegorz Braun, Włodzimierz Skalik, Andrzej Zapalowski and Roman Fritz. In 2025, Braun received 6.34% of the vote in the presidential election, giving him 4th place.
During the March of independency in 2025, KKP appeared with a immense banner “Polexit – not for Eurokołchoz”. Braun himself is eager to usage the offensive terms: “Eurokołchoz”, “cropolisers”, “Jewish komun”, consciously building the image of the enemy and polarizing the public debate. Interestingly, any of these terms derive from Russian propaganda, with which Braun's environment explicitly sympathizes. This is evidenced by their theories that the war in Ukraine serves Israel, which wants to make its second state there, and many anti-Semitic slogans. Braun's speeches were quoted in Russian programs, and he himself has contacts with the Russians, including Leonid Swiridov. They service primarily to make a fresh reality, alternatively of describing it as it is. Anyone who rejects their disfellowshipping language becomes, in their view, a “traitor” and “enemy of his homeland”. In their politics, it is impossible to be a patriot while not uncovering an enemy in another man. Controversy is besides caused by environments appearing next to KKP: during independency Day, the leaders of the “Redacy Kamrats” movement, far right, nationalist and neofascist organizations, were present.
An Invisible Enemy From the West
The classical strategy of populist leaders is to make a simple division: “we” versus “they”, “your” versus “foreign”. This strategy builds a hermetic community based on fear and serves to mobilize people against non-existent threat. Strong emotions work more effectively than rational arguments, and the easiest to attack is something that the mechanics is complicated and requires expertise.
Authoritarian politicians effort to subdue the largest percent of society. In this context, it is worth recalling the fashionable concept of Carl Schmitt, a German lawyer and authoritarian state theorist, on the American right. He was the creator of the concept of decision-making and a associate of the NSDAP from 1933 to 1945. He was distinguished in politics by the axis of friend – enemy. The philosopher described the enemy as 1 whose differences we see as a threat to our way of life. He does not should be morally angry, just that he is "different". Creating a society of a peculiar enemy is simply a form of manipulation that allows power to control it more easily.
The slogan of Polexit, which is simply a breakout from the bondage of European bureaucracy and government and consequently "regaining independence", acts as a political myth. People tend to find simple solutions to complicated problems. The shift of blame for its incompetence to the European Union gives a deceptive sense of control, but distracts the public from real problems and distorts their view of politics. Building narratives about "regaining sovereignty" powerfully affects social emotions, referring to the darkest times in Poland's history. Polyxit is most likely not a real target, but is highly useful as a tool for political mobilisation.
The increase in support for KKP is part of a wider global trend in strengthening extremist and Eurosceptic parties. Viktor Orbán has been threatening Brussels interference for years. During the speech on the anniversary of the 1956 Uprising, he said explicitly that the Union was trying to impose the Hungarian “marionary government” and called for a fight against the enemy. The anti-EU communicative is besides led by the Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, pushing for constitutional changes to guarantee the primacy of national government over the EU and to defend "conservative values". In the Czech Republic, the fresh coalition, led by Andrei Babiš, announces opposition to EU climate policy and social elements, and 1 of the coalitions calls for a referendum to stay Czech in the EU and NATO structures.
An extremist society?
Fear-based policies have serious consequences. 1 of them is the deep polarization, in which the regulation applies: “Whoever is not with us is against us”. KKP supporters see themselves as people who have “discovered the truth” and the remainder of the society as a manipulated mass incapable to care for the welfare of the nation.
The harsh and violent language utilized by extremist groups in public debate is not without consequence. Symbolic force finds its outlet in physical attacks over time. Despite the deficiency of direct incentives to usage it, the language of aggression powerfully refers to human emotions. This results in a deepening of divisions in society and its polarisation. As the proverb goes on, force breeds violence. If it falls on susceptible soil, it could pose a threat to the affected social groups. The language utilized by tyrannical groups undermines the quality of public debate and the global position of the state.
The European Union brings together associate States on a voluntary basis. Brexit has shown that it is possible to leave the Commonwealth. If power is taken over by rhetorically efficient populists, they can convince any of the population to solutions that conflict with his business. Therefore, it is worth remembering what Poland looked like before 2004 and how much improvement opportunities it owes to its entry into the EU. Without this, we could be next to Ukraine or Georgia today. These countries are inactive struggling to join European structures to gain opportunities for improvement and match Western countries.
Emilia KRUKOWSKA
