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Polish FM slams France's Macron over 'unjustified' accusations

PR dla Zagranicy
Victoria Bieniek 05.05.2017 12:35
Poland’s foreign minister has said that "unjustified" accusations by presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron against Warsaw stem from France’s inability to compete with ever-stronger economies to the east.
Były minister spraw zagranicznych Minister Witold Waszczykowski.   Foto: Flickr.com/PolandMFAByły minister spraw zagranicznych Minister Witold Waszczykowski. Foto: Flickr.com/PolandMFA

In an interview for Polish Radio, Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski responded to a statement made by Macron ahead of a final vote on Sunday.

Macron suggested that Jarosław Kaczyński, the head of Poland's ruling party, is a “friend and ally” of Marine Le Pen, Macron's right-wing rival in the race for the French presidency, placing Kaczyński alongside Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Meanwhile, last week a French daily cited Macron as suggesting that he wanted sanctions against Poland, which he said had “violated all the EU's principles”.

While speaking to striking factory workers of multinational white goods manufacturer Whirlpool, which will move some of its production to Poland, Macron accused Poland of playing on the differences in labour costs.

“Unable to deal with competition [from Poland, Macron] pulls out such political accusations, which are unjustified,” Waszczykowski said.

The Polish foreign minister was also asked about European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans saying he cannot rule out a move to impose sanctions against Poland because there is “a fundamental threat to the rule of law”.

Waszczykowski said the European Union would probably not accept such a move, adding that Poland has for 18 months responded to concerns from both the Council of Europe's human rights watchdog and the European Commission.

“There is no problem in Poland that would call for such a stigmatising move and punishment by sanctions,” Waszczykowski said.

The second and final round of French presidential elections takes place on Sunday. Two candidates, centrist Macron and right-wing Le Pen, remain in the race. Macron has about 60 percent support in polls. (vb/pk)

Source: PAP

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