Polish MP calls for deporting unemployed Ukrainians
Andrzej Szliwka believes that unemployed Ukrainians in Poland should be deported (Photo: Polsat)
Polish opposition lawmaker Andrzej Śliwka of the Law and Justice party said unemployed Ukrainians in Poland should be deported, arguing they could form at least one brigade to fight for their country, Polsat News reported on Aug. 11.
The lawmaker was commenting on a recent proposal by his party to deport Ukrainian men of draft age from Poland if they do not have legal employment in the country.
"Even if it is 5%, that is at least a brigade, if not a division, of people who could be organized and fight for their country," he said.
Deputy Interior and Administration Minister Maciej Duszczyk previously called such a move "very unlikely." He said Ukrainians who are in Poland but do not work represent "a handful of people, perhaps 5%."
Asked by the host who would identify and deport such people, Śliwka said Polish authorities were responsible for doing so.
"I think we would like, and I hope you, Mr. Editor, and our viewers would as well, to know who is staying in Poland illegally or who is in Poland but is not working. Such people should be identified, and this information is necessary even for our own security," he said.
Asked whether his party had any proposals regarding "unemployed Georgians, Belarusians, Russians or Germans," Śliwka said his proposal was prompted by the fact that "Ukraine is facing a shortage of personnel in its military."
"I believe a deadline should be set for these people to return to Ukraine, and if they do not return, Polish authorities should take action in accordance with the law and deport them. To me, this is obvious," the lawmaker said.
On June 26, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner said the European Commission was proposing to extend temporary protection for Ukrainians until March 4, 2028. However, the extension would not apply to recently arrived Ukrainian men ages 23 to 60 who are eligible for mobilization in Ukraine.
The same day, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, citing an anonymous EU official, reported that Ukrainian men eligible for military service could begin being denied temporary protection within weeks.
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