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Statement by the candidate for President of the Commission (debate)
I am not surprised that most of your speech was directed to the left side of the room, which is consistent with the agenda that you have been implementing over the last 5 years, both in terms of burdens on European businesses and citizens and the continuation of the federalisation vision. When you spoke about the aggression against Ukraine, human rights and security at the external borders, you did not mention the Lukashenka regime. Both Minsk's complicity in the war of aggression, making our neighbour a prison for those who dream of freedom, and the operation of Lukashenka's services directly aimed at the security of our borders should be met with a strong reaction from a person who once again aspires to such an important function. Silence on this issue should be of particular concern. All the more so because Minsk's role in supporting Russian aggression is multidimensional. Failing to support Belarusians who have been facing a wave of repression unheard of since Stalin's times for four years is a big mistake. Describing the situation on the eastern border, mentioning only Russia and the situation on the border with Finland in the face of the ongoing hybrid war on the Polish-Belarusian border, the victim of which was a Polish soldier, is unacceptable. Your proposals for further federalisation will not protect our borders. It is Polish soldiers, officers, who are willing to risk their lives and health to defend Polish borders, not officials in Brussels.