“Democratic renewal” and return Poland Liberal Donald Tusk’s “European leadership” Ultra-conservative Law and Justice Party (PiS). With this statement made in the Warsaw Parliament Sejm, Tusk set out to resume his position as head of government, which he left in 2014. It was an eventful turn between the delaying maneuvers of his opponents and an incident during the parliamentary session. with a far-right MP. It was Grzegorz Braun, who was radicalized and from the minority. ConfederationHe threw himself with a fire extinguisher to extinguish some Hanukkah candles placed in the parliamentary headquarters. an action antisemitism It led to stupefaction and confusion among MPs, as well as an extraordinary disruption to the session. Expulsion and sanction from the far right.
It was obvious that it would be a marathon-filled day. Following Tusk’s statement outlining the government program, the following statements were made: 254 question timeAs a preliminary step to a vote of confidence in the members of the Board of Directors. Tusk’s coalition secured a majority as it controlled 248 of the total 460 seats in parliament. His inauguration before the President is scheduled for this Wednesday Andrzej Duda. He is expected to be the leader on Thursday top The EU will take place in Brussels.
From confrontation to reunion
This commitment democratic renewal And Europeanness The ultra-conservative’s successor will have key points Mateusz Morawiecki This wasn’t a surprise. Tusk cruised to victory, representing the common hope of millions of Poles to leave PiS behind. His eight years in power were marked by clashes with the EU, restrictions on women’s rights, control over the media and politicization of justice.
Tusk, 66 years old and leader Civil Platform (PO)He won the trust of Lewica’s moderate left, as well as his partners in the new Government, the centrist Third Way. This was not easy, especially for the left, considering that its major European ally was Germany. German Manfred WeberThe “godfather” of conservatism in the European Parliament. But it was the only solid option for a fresh start. A party that shares the same group with the Spanish within the scope of PiS Vox and italian Giorgia MeloniWarsaw had aligned itself with the European radical right.
100 points campaign
A day after Morawiecki failed to demand a vote of confidence in the Sejm, Tusk promised before the Assembly to fulfill 100 points of his election campaign. That is, from the continuation to the approval of social benefits implemented by PiS – which are not fully compatible with liberal ideology”Radical improvements for women“and let’s rally for Poland frozen European funds As a result of PiS’s conflict with social institutions.
With these messages and the recognition of Poland’s commitment to NATO, Tusk plans to stage a return to Europe at the EU summit as the leader of the fifth European economy with a population of 37 million. It will be two months since Duda’s election victory, during which he had to overcome many obstacles, including his first mandate to form a government for Morawiecki.
Tusk started working Reunification with Europe The day after the victory of the European bloc, which consists of a dozen parties, including the PO, Third Way and Lewica alliances. He went to Brussels to meet with the President of the European Commission. Ursula von der Leyen. Meanwhile, Morawiecki and PiS leader are ‘hawks’ in Warsaw Jaroslaw KaczyinskiFrom their position as the force with the most votes in the polls, they extended the deadline to retain power without a majority or an ally, but with the complicity of President Duda, originally from PiS.
The Sejm said goodbye to the PiS era on Monday, and Morawiecki won the trust of only 190 deputies compared to 266 deputies. Tusk was immediately proposed as prime minister with the coalition he formed with centrists and leftists.
Between Warsaw and Brussels
Tusk owes his victory to urban voting and harassment by critical media, actions taken by LGTBI groups or against the abortion ban imposed by PiS. He also recruited voters who were sympathetic to PiS but fed up with the problems created by the conflict with the EU.
When he left his post as prime minister, which he held from 2007 to 2014, to head the European Council, he managed to break the image of a distant politician attributed to him. To his enemies in PiS, Tusk became an “agent of Brussels and Berlin” who proved to be a politician more focused on the outside world than on the problems of his citizens; Represents for others Poland’s opening up to the world.
His return to leadership is a defeat Jaroslaw KaczynskiMorawiecki or the PiS leader who controls all of Duda’s moves. There is a personal rivalry between the surname Tusk and Kaczynski, which is also reflected in previous poll battles, albeit with unequal results: in the 2007 general election, Tusk defeated the then head of the Government, Jaroslaw Kaczynski; He was defeated by his late twin brother two years ago Lech Kaczynskiin the presidential race.
Tusk has been away from Polish politics since he went to Brussels. After his term as president of the European Council, he became the leader of popular parties in the European Parliament. The PO entered a phase of unconsolidated leadership rotation. The exception was the mayor of Warsaw. Rafal Trzaskowki, He is charismatic and attracts the attention of young voters. It was unclear who would be the liberal candidate to regain leadership in Poland. Tusk eventually emerged victorious, backed by his experience and conciliatory profile, using the heart symbol as his flag, and capable of defeating the reactionary line of PiS.