Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar are citing widespread violence across France as justification for maintaining strict immigration controls, warning that European governments must strengthen border security to prevent further instability.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Poland and Hungary have reaffirmed their commitment to strict immigration enforcement following days of destructive unrest across France, with both countries’ prime ministers arguing that the violence demonstrates the importance of protecting national borders and maintaining domestic security.
The statements follow a weekend of rioting in French cities that left thousands of businesses damaged, public buildings burned and hundreds of police officers injured. More than 2,400 people were arrested as demonstrations over living costs, government spending policies and deteriorating public services escalated into widespread violence, according to Reuters reporting on the unrest.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk delivered an uncompromising message about his government’s immigration policies, declaring that Poland would not accept the security consequences he associates with policies adopted elsewhere in Europe.
In a public statement addressing the French violence, Tusk said:
“Poland will not repeat the mistakes of other European countries, nor will it pay for them.
“We are firmly defending the border against illegal migration, we have our own asylum policy (we do not accept applications), we deport those who break Polish law. On security issues, we will be relentless. That is what I told the leaders of Europe in Brussels.”
Tusk’s position reflects Poland’s continued emphasis on border enforcement despite the country’s political shift away from its previous conservative government. A former president of the European Council, Tusk has generally pursued closer cooperation with European Union institutions while maintaining restrictive measures against irregular migration, particularly along Poland’s eastern frontier.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar delivered a similar warning after reviewing images of burning buildings, looted businesses and violent confrontations between demonstrators and police in France.
Magyar, who defeated longtime Prime Minister Viktor Orbán earlier this year, said the disorder reinforced his government’s determination to preserve Hungary’s existing border protections.
“In the face of this senseless destruction and unjustified violence, perhaps it is now clear to everyone why Hungary advocates the strictest possible approach to migration, and why we will not weaken our border protection or immigration policy under any pressure,” Magyar said in a statement addressing the unrest.
The Hungarian leader also suggested that other European governments were increasingly recognizing the importance of stricter immigration policies after years of disagreement over border enforcement and asylum rules.
“We hope it is not too late,” Magyar said, while expressing solidarity with French citizens affected by the violence.
“The Europe we all love is in serious trouble today. It is our responsibility, too, to help preserve our continent as the most wonderful place in the world for our children and grandchildren.”
Magyar’s comments are especially notable because his victory over Orbán brought a change in Hungary’s political leadership without producing a corresponding reversal in its restrictive immigration policies. Although the two leaders differ on relations with Brussels and several domestic issues, Hungary’s approach to border security remains a central element of government policy.
The remarks have also intensified disagreement over the causes of the French unrest. While Tusk and Magyar have pointed to immigration and integration policies, French authorities have attributed much of the violence to radical far-left groups and opportunistic criminals exploiting demonstrations that initially focused on economic grievances.
The protests began amid growing dissatisfaction over living costs, school conditions, public services and government austerity measures. As Euronews reported, critics of Magyar’s statements argued that most demonstrators were French nationals and that the violence could not simply be attributed to immigration.
Nevertheless, France’s broader security problems have drawn increased scrutiny following the publication of the 2026 Global Peace Index, which identified the country as the least peaceful in Western and Central Europe.
The Global Peace Index report found that France’s overall score deteriorated by 0.5% over the preceding year, while its safety and security assessment worsened by 2%. The report attributed the decline partly to violent crime and public perceptions of criminality.
According to the findings, more than one-quarter of French residents reported feeling unsafe walking alone at night, while nearly one in 10 said they had experienced violent crime during the previous year. The report also highlighted major demonstrations in September 2025, when the “Block Everything” movement mobilized hundreds of thousands of protesters against austerity measures and resulted in clashes with police and more than 300 arrests.
Poland, by contrast, recorded the region’s largest improvement in the index, with its overall score improving by 9.1%. The country advanced to 22nd place globally, representing one of the most significant improvements recorded in the 2026 assessment.
The index measures several aspects of peacefulness, including societal safety, ongoing conflict and militarization. Its findings do not independently establish that differences in immigration policies caused the contrasting outcomes.
The French violence has also drawn criticism from senior American officials, including President Donald Trump, who directly connected the disorder to Europe’s immigration policies.
“What’s happening in France is nothing less than out of control mass migration,” Trump said, arguing that “the immigration of people from an entirely different world, people with hatred in their hearts, has shattered that once great country”.
The president urged French authorities to “close your borders and take control before it is too late”.
Vice President JD Vance similarly blamed immigration and assimilation failures, arguing that the scenes unfolding in France should serve as a warning to the United States.
“Western liberals imported the third world into France and other countries in the name of diversity and compassion. They ignored fundamental questions of assimilation and compatibility. They were told it would lead to this and they didn’t listen.
“I pray that France, a beautiful country of amazing people, will stop this madness before more of its landmarks burn. And I hope Americans are paying attention. This is the future congressional Democrats seek for your country.”
The competing explanations underscore a growing political dispute over whether Europe’s recurring episodes of unrest stem primarily from immigration policies, failures of social integration, economic conditions or the actions of organized extremist groups.
French President Emmanuel Macron has condemned the destruction while defending the legitimacy of peaceful protest. His government has authorized localized curfews and additional security measures as authorities investigate the violence and work to restore order.
For Poland and Hungary, the latest developments have reinforced a shared position that protecting national borders must remain a priority regardless of changes in political leadership. Their warnings also reflect a broader debate within the European Union over migration enforcement, national sovereignty and the responsibility of governments to maintain public security.
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