Tusk backs cuts to Ukrainian child benefits in election-driven shift to the right

Anything is possible in the alternative reality of an election campaign. Poland’s ruling coalition is now racing to push through a PiS-inspired bill to cut child benefits for Ukrainian families. It’s a stark example of how far both the government and Rafa? Trzaskowski are willing to lean right to win votes.

The proposed changes to the 800+ child benefit programme would block payments to Ukrainians unless they work and pay taxes in Poland. For Trzaskowski, a Civic Coalition leader known for his left-liberal views, this is a dramatic shift. For the government, adopting a PiS idea is no less shocking. It shows how nationalism is dominating the political agenda ahead of May’s presidential election. Critics are already calling this a cynical move, driven by electoral ambitions rather than practical policy, with little thought for the humanitarian fallout.

800+ has been a flagship PiS policy since 2016. Originally launched as 500+, it paid families monthly regardless of income, aiming to boost birth rates and help low-income households. Rebranded as 800+ last year, it remains wildly popular. Crucially, Ukrainian families fleeing the Russian invasion are also eligible under Polish law.

The issue cam to head when Trzaskowski, KO’s presidential candidate and Warsaw mayor, proposed restricting benefits to Ukrainians who work and pay taxes. At a meeting in Puńsk, near the Lithuanian border, he framed it as a practical step. Poland, he said, must avoid the mistakes of Western Europe, where migrants, he claimed, “profited” from welfare systems without contributing. For someone long seen as a liberal, this was a sharp turn.

“Benefits like 800+ should go to those who contribute to our economy. This is a fair and common-sense approach,” Trzaskowski told locals, casting himself as a pragmatist. His critics see it differently. To them, it’s a calculated bid to court nationalist voters who’ve grown disillusioned with PiS.

The ruling coalition’s response was immediate. Donald Tusk, KO leader and former European Council president, backed Trzaskowski’s idea, pledging that the government would “promptly” consider it.

https://x.com/donaldtusk/status/1882398614116557139?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1882398614116557139%7Ctwgr%5E3ab090a945e0df936726ef92da0c982796467b7a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpulsembed.eu%2Fp2em%2Fh6YPy39l2%2F

This is ironic, given KO MPs previously blocked similar PiS proposals. PiS leader Mariusz B?aszczak wasted no time highlighting this U-turn. “Rafa? Trzaskowski has finally acknowledged what we’ve been saying for years: welfare should support contributors to our society,” he said.

This move reflects a shifting election strategy. Trzaskowski seems intent on broadening his appeal beyond city-based liberals. Recently, he’s criticised the EU’s Mercosur trade deal, demanded higher defence spending, and attacked Germany’s policies in Eastern Europe. Tusk’s endorsement of his welfare proposal only solidifies the coalition’s attempt to steal PiS’s thunder on nationalist issues.

Not everyone is on board. Szymon Ho?ownia, the parliament speaker and a Polska 2050 member, voiced concerns, warning against drastic changes that could hurt vulnerable families. “You could consider better checks on participants, but there’s no need for radical reforms,” Ho?ownia said. He also called out the potential harm to single mothers and refugees, labelling the idea “inhumane.” Left-wing MPs were equally critical, accusing KO of abandoning Poland’s humanitarian principles.

Polish attitudes toward Ukrainian refugees have cooled since 2022, when the country was celebrated for its openness. Millions of Ukrainians fled to Poland as Russia invaded. But as the economic strain grew, resentment set in. Politicians are now tapping into that frustration. Data shows the number of Ukrainian children receiving 800+ has already halved since 2022, yet the political appetite for targeting them keeps growing.