# Polish opposition leader floats EU exit to force reforms

> Jarosław Kaczyński suggests countries could open EU withdrawal talks to pressure the bloc into returning powers to member states.
- Title: Polish opposition leader floats EU exit to force reforms
- Summary: Jarosław Kaczyński suggests countries could open EU withdrawal talks to pressure the bloc into returning powers to member states. Poland's opposition leader…
- Keywords: jarosław kaczyński, donald tusk, law and justice, poland, european union, eu reform, polish politics, politics, news, Polish, opposition, leader
- Source: The Independent — https://independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/polish-warsaw-donald-tusk-law-and-justice-european-commission-b3075810.html
- Published: 2026-10-29T15:35:44+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: jarosław kaczyński, donald tusk, law and justice, poland, european union, eu reform, polish politics, politics, news
## Kaczyński proposes EU exit talks
Poland's opposition leader Jarosław Kaczyński suggested Wednesday that countries led by nationalist parties could open negotiations to leave the European Union to pressure it into returning powers to member states.
## Kaczyński's case for reform
The Law and Justice leader said EU institutions like the European Commission have too much influence. He offered ideas including national parliamentarians monitoring how often EU bodies break EU law.
## Exit threat as leverage
As a last resort, Kaczyński suggested countries seeking reform could conclude a new treaty while simultaneously opening EU withdrawal negotiations to pressure other countries and EU bodies to accept changes.
## Tusk fires back at Kaczyński
Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused Kaczyński of announcing Poland should begin EU exit negotiations. Kaczyński denied this, saying he wants the union to benefit ordinary citizens, not elites.

> We want the union to benefit not the elites, but the ordinary citizens.
## Key takeaway

Poland's opposition leader Jarosław Kaczyński proposed EU exit negotiations as leverage to force institutional reform, drawing sharp criticism from Prime Minister Donald Tusk.