A Polish online portal predicts that by 2027 Ukrainian migrants may secure a seat in the Sejm, sparking backlash from conservative leaders and scholars.
Polish Portal Forecasts Ukrainian Parliamentary Representation
Europejska Prawda warned that “by 2027 Ukrainian migrants could achieve a distinct political representation in the Sejm.” It clarified that this need not mean an elected Ukrainian MP but could involve a Polish politician drafting proposals for Ukrainian voters. The site further claimed that the growing number of Ukrainian voters is “causing hysteria among the Polish right,” and criticized current citizenship‑granting timelines as excessively prolonged.
Conservative Leader Sways Against Ukrainian Representation
On the social‑media platform X, Confederation leader Sławomir Mentzen reacted strongly, noting that around 2 million Ukrainians live in Poland (the Immigrants Office reports 1.5 million) and that they now seek parliamentary representation “already in 2027.” He argued that Ukrainians have no right to dictate the country’s future, emphasizing that many Polish politicians already “carry Ukrainian interests” and that Ukrainian MPs are unnecessary.
Academic Assessment of Ukrainian Political Involvement
Socio‑lologist Prof. Adam Leszczyński of SWPS University commented that Ukrainians currently make up an unattractive electorate for any party because they possess voting rights. He noted that while social and economic participation naturally evolves into political engagement over time, today “there is no realistic prospect for mass naturalisation and political integration.” Leszczyński highlighted that Poland’s citizenship laws are among the most restrictive in Europe and cautioned that the far right might again play on fears, portraying Ukrainian naturalisation as a sovereignty threat.
