Leaders across Central Europe are pointing to widespread civil unrest and violence in France to defend their own strict border control policies, arguing that the unfolding crisis validates their refusal to adopt Western European migration models.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Hungarian political figure Peter Magyar both seized on recent turbulent events in France—marked by thousands of arrests, widespread looting of businesses, and hundreds of injured police officers—to assert that their respective nations have chosen the correct path on security and immigration.
The public statements from Central European officials highlight a notable political consensus in the region, even amid shifts toward European Union-friendly centrism in domestic politics. Both Poland and Hungary maintain border policies that are significantly more restrictive than those found in much of Western Europe.
Tusk, a former President of the Council of Europe, stated following a weekend of severe violence in France that Poland would neither repeat the mistakes of other European countries nor bear their costs. He emphasized that his government is firmly defending its borders against illegal migration, operating an asylum policy that rejects applications, and actively deporting individuals who violate Polish law. On security matters, Tusk declared his administration would remain relentless.
In Hungary, Peter Magyar also addressed the shocking footage of violence, looting, and the destruction of historic buildings emerging from France. Expressing solidarity with the French populace while condemning the rioters and government handling, Magyar questioned whether it was now evident why Hungary maintains the strictest possible approach to migration.
Magyar maintained that Hungary would not weaken its border protection or immigration policies under any external pressure, adding that more European states are beginning to adopt a Central European perspective on border enforcement.
The commentary from Central European capitals follows the release of the 2026 Global Peace Index, which rated France as the least peaceful country in the European Union. The index reported a marginal overall deterioration of 0.5 percent for France over the past year, driven by a two percent drop in the Safety and Security domain due to rising violent crime and perceptions of criminality. The report noted that more than one in four people in France feel unsafe walking alone at night, while nearly one in 10 reported being victims of violent crime over the past year.
Conversely, the same Global Peace Index recorded a major improvement for Poland, which saw its overall score advance by 9.1 percent—representing one of the largest gains globally and placing the country 22nd worldwide.
The perspective articulated by Polish and Hungarian leaders aligns with statements from United States officials regarding the unrest. U.S. President Donald Trump described the situation in France as the result of out-of-control mass migration, urging the nation to close its borders and regain control. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance issued a broader warning linking the events in France to Western liberal immigration policies, cautioning domestic audiences against similar approaches to assimilation and border management.
