WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s prime minister-designate, Mateusz Morawiecki, says he dreams of Europe becoming “re-Christianised” and is defending the migration policies of his ruling party which have caused tensions with the European Union.

Morawiecki gave his first interview since being designated prime minister Friday to the Catholic TV Trwam station, describing his dream of seeing an increasingly secular Europe return to its Christian roots.

The 49-year-old Catholic father of four said that “unfortunately, in many places carols are not sung, churches are empty and are converted into museums,” calling this a great source of sadness to him.

He also said that Poland has the right to decide whether to accept refugees or not. The comment indicates he will stick to his ruling party’s policy of refusing to accept refugees in an EU resettlement programme.

He was chosen Thursday by the conservative ruling Law and Justice party to succeed Prime Minister Beata Szydło and is to be approved by parliament next week.