DISINFO: The EU is planning to cancel the upcoming Presidential elections in Poland
SUMMARY
The European Union feels threatened by the Presidential election in Poland – it is clearly preparing the cancellation of the May 18 elections or the suspension of one of the candidates.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk already stated that the “foreign interference in the elections has begun” and “there is one candidate whom the EU considers very problematic”, pointing to Sławomir Mentzen. The banning of a popular candidate in Romania and the EU's ignoring of this situation is evidence of Europe's transformation into a dictatorship.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives against the European Union and democracy.
The claim that the European Union is preparing to cancel Poland's 18 May 2025 Presidential election or suspend a candidate, such as Sławomir Mentzen, is baseless. The election process is being conducted domestically under Polish law, and any claims of EU intervention are speculative and unfounded. The EU has consistently emphasised its respect for the sovereignty of member states in conducting their elections.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk did express concerns about foreign interference in the upcoming elections, but his remarks specifically referred to cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns attributed to Russia or its allies, not the EU. Tusk's statements were aimed at safeguarding Poland's electoral integrity against external threats from Eastern actors.
The narrative draws a false parallel with Romania’s annulled presidential election in 2024. Romania’s Constitutional Court annulled the first round due to verified evidence of Russian interference, including disinformation campaigns on social media platforms like TikTok. This decision was made by Romanian authorities based on national security concerns, not by the EU.
The claim that the EU is transforming into a dictatorship by influencing elections is a recurring theme in pro-Kremlin disinformation campaigns aimed at sowing distrust in European institutions.
See similar cases about elections taking place in Europe here.