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Poland's new cabinet to make U-turn on refugees over Paris attacks?

PR dla Zagranicy
Alicja Baczyńska 15.11.2015 10:05
Members of Poland's prospective Law and Justice government, have linked the series of terror attacks, which left at least 129 dead, with Europe's refugee crisis.
The lights of the Eiffel Tower are switched off as a mourning gesture after the shootings and bombings of the night before in Paris, France, 14 November 2015. Photo: EPA/ETIENNE LAURENTThe lights of the Eiffel Tower are switched off as a mourning gesture after the shootings and bombings of the night before in Paris, France, 14 November 2015. Photo: EPA/ETIENNE LAURENT

The country's conservative cabinet, to be sworn in on Monday, is likely to go back on the predecessors' pledge to take in 7,000 asylum seekers from Syria and Eritrea, a decision taken by outgoing Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz as part of the EU's scheme of relocating refugees across Europe.

"In the face of the tragic events in Paris, Poland sees no political possibilities for implementing the decision on the relocation of refugees," the incoming minister for European affairs, Law and Justice's Konrad Szymański, said.

"Poland must maintain full control over its borders, over its asylum and immigration policies," Szymański wrote in an article released online. "The attacks point to the need for an even greater revision of Europe's policy on the immigration crisis," he added.

The commitment to relocate refugees will be honored only if security guarantees are put in place, he stated, adding, however, that these guarantees were called into question in the light of the extreme violence which broke out in the French capital.

According to information confirmed by Greek police, two of the attackers in Paris came into Europe registered as refugees last month.

"Everyone must realise how big a mistake it was to attempt to relocate groups of Muslim immigrants in Poland," said future Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz a day after a series of bombings and shootings in the French capital.

"This situation only confirms that we cannot take in such a large number of immigrants as we are unable to ensure a watertight selection process and guarantee Poles security," Macierewicz said.

The conservative Law and Justice party was not the only voice on the Polish political arena to criticise Europe's immigration policy. The head of the Democratic Left Alliance, Leszek Miller, has called German Chancellor Angela Merkel Europe's biggest "vermin" criticising her open-door policy. (aba/rk)

Source: IAR, TVPInfo

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