“The President and I parted amicably, but not by agreement; We have different opinions on foreign policy,” Prime Minister Donald Tusk said today. He added that – in accordance with the Constitution – it is the government that conducts Poland’s foreign policy.
Yesterday – before the ceremony of appointing new members of the Council of Ministers – President Andrzej Duda met with the head of government. The topics included the Nuclear Sharing Program, the National Court Register Act, the Central Communication Port and the so-called competency law – according to unofficial information from the presidential palace. The head of government is said to have stated that he would not respect the so-called Competence Act – also stems from unofficial information from the presidential palace.
When asked at a press conference today about the topics discussed during their meeting, Tusk said he was not in the habit of revealing such details. However, he stated that he and the president had “different views on foreign policy” and that he would like President Duda to cooperate and help “if he can.”
I would like the President to finally recognize the obvious constitutional principle that foreign policy is conducted by the government, and that the President represents Poland in foreign affairs
– he emphasized.
At the same time, Tusk assured that he did not want conflict at the top of power because – as he said – “this is neither in the interest of Poland nor of its government.”
The president refers to the so-called competence law, and I pointed out to him that competences are more important, and not the law prepared under PiS that tries to circumvent the constitution
– he pointed.
Competence Act
The so-called The Competence Act assumes that the government must submit proposals to the president for candidates for positions, including: a member of the European Commission or a judge at the Court of Justice of the EU. The President has fourteen days to express his assent or refuse to appoint the named candidates.
I want foreign policy not to be a matter of the ambition of this or that official – not even of the highest rank – but to be agreed with the government, implemented by the government and to work in Poland’s interest.
– said Tusk.
The prime minister concluded that he and the president had parted amicably, “but not by agreement.”
I would like to remind you that the Commissioner is appointed by the head of the European Commission, he is not the delegate of the President or the Prime Minister in Europe, so such provisions in the Competence Act are not serious.
– added.
Prime Minister Tusk still shows his characteristic demeanor, according to which he considers as legal only those solutions that can serve to achieve his political goals. This is certainly not a state-building attitude.
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Source: wPolityce
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.