A Digest of Political, Economic, Cultural and Historical News from Poland

Published: March 7, 2017

 

The Polish Government does not support the candidacy of Donald Tusk for the second term as the President of the European Council. As President of the EC “Donald Tusk repeatedly spoke critically about the Polish government,” said Speaker of the Senate Stanislaw Karczewski.

The Polish government recommends Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, the current MEP form Donald Tusk’s party for this position. In March 2006, Saryusz-Wolski was elected Vice President of the European People's Party (EPP). He also served as Vice-President and member of the national board of Civic Platform until October 2010 and as leader of the Polish delegation of centre-right MEPs until 2012. Marshal Karczewski stressed that Jacek Saryusz-Wolski who is Poland’s official candidate for the position of the President of the European Council is a good, well-prepared candidate for President of the Council.

“Repeatedly Mr. Donald Tusk spoke in words very critical of the Polish government, especially on December 16, he spoke very critically about what happened, but addressed by his criticism towards the government,” said the Speaker of the Senate at a press conference.

“It was a very bad assessment of what was happening in Poland, because in Poland in no way the principles of democracy have been violated or disrupted, said Marshal Karczewski.

Karczewski also pointed out that the position taken by Tusk regarding refugee quotas was an anti-Polish action. “It was not the action in accordance with the interests of Poland, or in accordance with the expectations of the government, and above in accordance all the expectations of the public,” he said.

At the same time Marshal expressed confidence that Saryusz-Wolski, who has been a member of the Civic Platform, is a good candidate for the head of the European Council. He is well prepared and "so far respected by all, including the PiS politicians."

“We were able to rise above political divisions, beyond the political differences, and designate the candidate who was in another political group in the European Parliament,” emphasized Karczewski.

Saryusz-Wolski is a man with great experience in working in the EU and working on the process of integrating Poland into the European structures. “He is respected by all political options. Maybe at the moment temporarily by the Civic Platform less,” he added.

 

The end of May marks the first 2.5-year term of Tusk as the head of the European Council. At the EU summit on March 9-10, 2017 European leaders have to decide whether Tusk will serve as Chairman of the Council for another term.

 

Source: niezalezna.pl
Photo: wiadomosci.wp.pl