Tusk calls for nationalization: ‘Naive globalization’ has ended in Poland

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared that “naive globalization has ended,” calling for the country’s economy, markets, and capital to be under greater Polish control.

“In this brutal competition of egos in global markets and on war fronts, Poland will no longer be a naive partner,” Tusk said, warning that Polish companies should not be disadvantaged against international giants.

Speaking at the European New Ideas Forum (EFNI), Tusk emphasized that future success would belong to those who draw the right lessons from today’s global changes and position Poland to defend its economic sovereignty and compete on a level playing field.

Calling for increased national control, Tusk also advocated for the “re-Polonization” of Polish markets and capital.

Polish leader emphasizes ‘national economy’

In a symbolic move, he announced that operations at the Sławków transshipment terminal, strategically located for east-west trade, would be entirely in the hands of Polish companies, reinforcing the government’s commitment to national control over key infrastructure and securing what he called a future cornerstone of Ukraine’s reconstruction.

“Sławków will be a key hub for transportation and logistics in the region,” the Prime Minister said, adding that regaining control of such assets is not only a national but also a European priority.

The Prime Minister announced a broad plan to reorganize the economy, tasking the state, administrators, and public institutions with protecting “national economic interests.”

Tusk said, “Our task today is this, and this task is for the state, for managers, for officials, for ministers, for Polish companies… to act effectively, ruthlessly if necessary, and always in the interests of Polish entrepreneurs, Polish companies, Polish capital.”

‘State-owned companies should prioritize national interests, not profitability’

He also referred to a recent meeting with the heads of Poland’s largest state-owned energy companies, which highlighted the economic dilemmas facing the country, and underlined that public ownership should prioritize national interests over profit.

Tusk said, “When it comes to an energy company, for example, the first task is to ensure energy security for the Polish state, to provide energy to Polish families, Polish households, and Polish entrepreneurs as cheaply and universally accessible as possible. The state-owned company does not have to maximize its profits.”

Emphasizing the importance of national identity in economic strategy, Tusk called for a greater role for Polish firms in public tenders and promised stricter oversight of state-owned companies to guarantee local participation.

Tusk said, “We must ruthlessly and selfishly pursue the interests of Polish entrepreneurs.”

The Prime Minister’s statements triggered a negative market reaction, with energy company shares falling rapidly. PGE fell by 6.6%, Enea by 3.5%, and Tauron by 8.5%. Orlen also experienced a slight decline, and all four companies are state-owned.

‘Re-nationalization’ linked to militarization

Tusk also pointed to key investment areas where domestic firms would be favored, including the expansion of the Sławków terminal, a freight hub connecting the broad-gauge railway from the east to the European network, and the construction of Poland’s first nuclear power plant in Choczewo.

The Prime Minister said that the government had made an “irreversible” decision to channel the 53 billion zlotys (€12.37 billion) from the nuclear power plant project directly to Polish companies. While some high-tech components will still require foreign partners, these will be limited.

Poland cannot legally prioritize domestic firms solely based on their nationality under EU competition and tender rules. However, the government can promote local participation through quality requirements and subcontractor quotas.

Westinghouse, the US-based prime contractor, has stated that up to 50% of the Choczewo project will involve Polish companies.

Tusk also said that rebuilding the country’s industrial capacity is among the investment priorities.

Citing the boiler manufacturer Rafako, which declared bankruptcy last year, as an example of how the state can effectively support industry, Tusk suggested that the company’s potential should be used for arms production.

Tusk also cited Huta Częstochowa as an example, saying that the company was saved thanks to the state’s determination and has become an important element in supporting the Polish army.

Tusk approaches PiS policies

Tusk’s emphasis on prioritizing national interests in economic policy is thought to reflect the language used by the previous Law and Justice (PiS) government.

During the PiS era, the state sought to bring key sectors of the economy under domestic ownership, justifying these moves as necessary to protect “national sovereignty.”

This included Orlen’s purchase of hundreds of regional media outlets from a German company in 2020. While PiS defended the move as a safeguard against foreign influence, critics described it as an attempt to increase government control over the media.

The PiS administration also floated ideas such as creating a state-owned chain of stores and expressed interest in buying back large private assets such as the Żabka market network.