Poles are in a quandary over Brexit

At first, Brexit was seen in Poland as a glorious but chaotic farce. As strange as it sounds, three long, grim years after the referendum, the whole thing seemed, to them, like a glorious chaotic farce. Most of them supported Poland’s membership of the EU but the irreverent Nigel Farage was more relatable than a bunch of uptight bureaucrats; they could at least imagine having a beer with him. As reality sunk in, and the months ground by, these comical aspects paled. Poles are now as bored hearing about Brexit as many Brits.

The national conservative Polish government has been in an interesting position when it comes to Brexit. Ideologically, as a member of the EU’s awkward squad who have locked horns with Brussels over the ruling Law and Justice party’s controversial judicial reforms and refusal to accept North African migrants, it has at least some kinship with the cause. If Britain leaves the EU, however, it could disrupt Poland’s trading partnerships, endanger its migrants’ residential status and mean that Poland loses a potential ally against the richer and more liberal French and German states.