‘Elect strong politicians or cry for your children’ – Polish PM on Manchester attack
Citizens of Western nations must elect strong leaders or risk falling victim to more terrorist attacks targeting their children, said Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło.
In an extraordinary intervention in her country’s parliament, the PM urged Europeans to reject immigration or suffer the consequences of attacks like that seen in Manchester on Monday night.
Suicide bomber Salman Abedi killed 22 and injured 116 in an attack on an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena.
Two Polish citizens died in the attack.
“We are not going to take part in the madness of the Brussels elite. We want to help people, not the political elites,” said Szydło.
“Rise from your knees and from your lethargy or you will be crying over your children every day.
“If you can’t see this – if you can’t see that terrorism currently has the potential to hurt every country in Europe, and you think that Poland should not defend itself, you are going hand in hand with those who point this weapon against Europe, against all of us.
“It needs to be said clearly and directly: This is an attack on Europe, on our culture, on our traditions.”
She went on to ask: “Do we want strong politicians who can see the danger and can fight against it efficiently?”
The Polish government is currently locked in a battle with the EU Commission over plans to make each member state adopt the Common European Asylum System.
The move would see all EU nations required to take a share of refugees from countries like Italy and Greece, which have to date taken the majority of people fleeing to Europe from Middle Eastern turmoil.
Szydło’s government reversed a pledge by its predecessor to take up to 6,200 refugees. The commission has threatened sanctions if the requisite number are not taken by June.
