Honestly, if you've been watching the headlines lately, Poland feels like it’s moving at 200 kilometers per hour. There is no other way to put it. Between the bizarre diplomatic spat with Hungary over a former minister and the chaos of Storm Goretti, the "news in poland today" isn't just one story—it is a collision of high-stakes politics and a country trying to reinvent itself as Europe's military powerhouse.
Tensions are high. Like, really high.
Just this morning, January 13, 2026, the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs is essentially fuming. Why? Because Hungary just confirmed it granted "asylum" to former Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro. Think about that for a second. An EU member state is giving refuge to a politician from another EU member state to protect him from "political persecution." It sounds like something out of a Cold War spy novel, but it’s happening right now in Warsaw and Budapest.
The Asylum Scandal and the Tusk-Orban Rift
The situation with Zbigniew Ziobro is basically a diplomatic hand grenade. Polish Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk didn’t mince words today, stating clearly that "Ziobro will not go unpunished." The current government under Donald Tusk sees Ziobro not as a political refugee, but as someone dodging serious charges regarding the misappropriation of funds meant for crime victims—specifically to buy Israeli spyware.
Hungary’s Peter Szijjarto is leaning hard into the narrative that the rule of law is "under threat" in Poland. It’s a total flip of the script from three years ago.
Warsaw has already summoned the Hungarian envoy. It’s messy. You have a European arrest warrant on one side and "political asylum" on the other. This isn't just a legal disagreement; it is a fundamental breakdown of trust within the Visegrád Group.
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Why 2026 is the "Year of Acceleration"
While the politicians argue, the actual gears of the country are grinding toward a massive shift. Prime Minister Tusk recently declared 2026 the "Year of Polish Acceleration." He isn't just talking about GDP—though the 3.5% growth forecast is nothing to sneeze at.
- The Military Push: Poland is actively trying to build the strongest land army in Europe. We’re talking about massive procurement of tanks and artillery.
- Energy Shift: The World of Hydrogen Expo kicked off today at Ptak Warsaw Expo in Nadarzyn. It’s not just a trade show; it’s a signal that the government wants to "re-polonize" the energy sector through tech.
- Infrastructure: There's a "rapid conquest" of the Baltic Sea happening with offshore wind projects and the expansion of ports.
Border Closures and the "Storm Goretti" Fallout
If you were planning to travel across the eastern border today, forget about it. Poland has officially shuttered ten land crossings with Russia and Belarus. They’re citing "temporary security reasons" and hybrid threats. Basically, if you’re a freight driver, you’re now looking at a 300-kilometer detour through Lithuania or the Gdańsk ferry.
The sole remaining Belarus crossing at Kukuryki–Kozłowiczi is currently operating at 150% capacity. The queues are legendary.
On top of the geopolitical stress, nature decided to join the party. Storm Goretti has spent the last 24 hours absolutely crippling the rail and air networks. If you're stuck at Chopin Airport or waiting for a delayed Intercity train to Kraków, you're not alone. The post-holiday mobility has basically ground to a halt in some regions.
Immigration Rules Just Got More Expensive
Something that hasn't made the front pages yet but is affecting thousands: the MOS portal for residence permits. As of today, January 13, Poland has switched to an online-only filing system for most residency cases.
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The kicker? Fees have essentially quadrupled.
If you're one of the million Ukrainians living here, there is a bit of a silver lining, though. The government quietly extended temporary protection until March 4, 2026. This removes the "cliff-edge" risk for employers, but the new rules mean that by mid-year, you'll need to be formally employed to keep getting the 800-plus child benefit. It's a clear nudge: the era of humanitarian aid is shifting into the era of labor market integration.
Political Chaos in the "Poland 2050" Party
Away from the international stage, internal politics are getting weird. The "Poland 2050" party, led by Szymon Hołownia, tried to hold a leadership runoff yesterday.
It failed.
They’re blaming a "system error" that shut down the electronic voting prematurely. But if you look at the leaks coming out of their Signal groups, the party is basically tearing itself apart. Around a third of their parliamentary representation allegedly quit the group chat between rounds. Hołownia is calling the campaign a "destructive period," and there are even accusations of "treason" flying between factions.
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It’s a reminder that while Tusk’s coalition looks strong on the outside, the individual bricks are starting to crack under the pressure of the 2026 "acceleration."
What This Means for You
If you are living in or doing business with Poland, the "news in poland today" suggests three immediate priorities. First, if you're handling logistics, you need to re-model your transit times immediately. Those border closures aren't going away in 30 days, regardless of what the official review says.
Second, the shift to the online MOS portal is mandatory. Don't try to mail in paper applications anymore; they'll likely be rejected or stuck in limbo, and you need to budget for the higher fees.
Finally, keep an eye on the "Polish First" procurement rules Tusk is rolling out. If you’re in the defense or infrastructure sectors, the game is changing to favor local production and "re-polonization."
Actionable Steps for the Week:
- Check Border Status: Use the official Border Guard (Straż Graniczna) app before any eastern transit; the Kukuryki crossing is currently a bottleneck.
- Update Residency Paperwork: If your PESEL UKR status or residence card is nearing expiry, use the new MOS e-portal immediately to avoid the backlog caused by the system change.
- Audit Energy Costs: With the transition toward hydrogen and the new ETS2 regulations looming for 2027, businesses should look into the "SAFE" instrument grants for energy efficiency now.