Polish farmer protest movement reveals far-right connections

A new Polish farmers' group with far-right ties has gained political attention after protesting against EU climate policies and Ukrainian food imports.

Marta Kasztelan, Clare Carlile, and Phoebe Cooke report for DeSmog.

In short:

• Orka, a recently formed farmers' group, suspended a hunger strike after securing talks with Polish President Andrzej Duda.
• The group has ties to the far-right Confederation Party, raising concerns about its political motivations.
• Protests have emerged across Poland against EU environmental regulations, with Orka aiming to discard the EU's Green Deal.

Key quote:

“It’s very difficult to fight this kind of misinformation.”

— Krzysztof Cibor, head of campaigns, Greenpeace Poland

Why this matters:

The rise of Orka reflects how populist and far-right parties can leverage local discontent to challenge EU policies, potentially destabilizing political landscapes and undermining efforts to combat climate change.

For more about the rise of the far-right in Europe:

• Green policies and the rise of the far-right in Europe
• Far-right groups in Germany target climate policies
• Farmers' discontent fuels far-right agendas in Europe