Prime Minister Donald Tusk decided to ask a farmer why Argentine beef should be cheaper than Polish beef, admitting that he… doesn’t understand the problem. “Let’s work together so that it’s them who fear Polish beef, not us who fear Argentine,” he appealed. The internet reacted instantly: “He doesn’t know why, but he doesn’t have to – he’s only the prime minister,” “utterly shameless,” “his economic knowledge is zero.”

During a meeting with residents of Piotrków Trybunalski, the head of government referred to the recently approved Mercosur trade agreement, through which both Poland and other European Union countries will be flooded with cheap, lower-quality food from South American nations.

“In all other EU countries, but also in Poland, the number of those who will benefit from the Mercosur agreement – I’m speaking here of exporters of Polish goods – is perhaps comparable, or maybe even greater, than the number of farmers who feel threatened. Business, unfortunately, has two sides. As prime minister, I must ensure that Polish products have export markets. If we isolate ourselves from the rest of the world to protect Polish agricultural products, we will simultaneously drastically limit export opportunities, possibly even to the detriment of Polish farmers themselves,” he stated. But that was not all.

Donald Tusk then decided to ask a farmer why Argentine beef should be cheaper than Polish beef, admitting that he… doesn’t understand the issue.

“I won’t accept the argument that beef must be cheaper everywhere in the world, even if it has to travel thousands of kilometers, while in Poland it’s more expensive despite receiving European subsidies. We must consider why this happens and why others aren’t afraid of us,” he began his argument. Then things got even more curious:

“Let’s work together so that it’s them who fear Polish beef, not us who fear Argentine (…). If everyone looks at us and sees in Poland a truly outstanding country, then let them finally begin to fear Polish agriculture, Polish products – everything that comes from Poland. It’s also my dream that such a discussion would begin in France. I’d like to hear them say: ‘Polish farmers will destroy us now,’” he said.