It would be easier to understand if Tusk sought roles in Germany after May 31, 2022, or positions tied to Berlin’s government decisions.
“I have to win this election. I am not interested in a small game.” That was the declared stance in Lublin on January 20, 2023, as Donald Tusk spoke about politics with a sense of both ambition and restraint. Yet the question remains large: who in Poland needs Donald Tusk, and why? The simplest, most provocative answer might be that, for many Poles, there is little perceived need for his leadership or for the ambitions he embodies.
That answer may shock. How can someone be seen as essential after holding the Polish premiership for seven years, serving five years as President of the European Council, and leading the European People’s Party for a period? When the career is weighed, some would argue that Poland gained little, despite a huge personal stake in the outcome of those years. What, for example, was the point if 250 to 270 billion PLN did not flow into the Polish budget?
What value did Poland gain from Tusk’s tenure from December 1, 2014, to November 30, 2019? Did a decision by the European Commission or the European Council clearly favor Poland at the time? Those fixations, if any, often point to money but through lenses of algorithms and broader geopolitical moves. Poland was not singled out for discrimination, yet that restraint aligned more with Germany’s long-range goals than with Poland’s immediate interests.
What message does it send when a foreign politician receives prestigious awards from another country? It signals recognition by that country of the politician’s contributions, though the awards may be interpreted as benefiting the recipient’s home audience more than the host. In Germany’s case, the honors accorded to Tusk included the Charlemagne Prize on May 13, 2010; the Victoria Golden Award for European of the Year on November 10, 2011; and the Walter Rathenau Award on May 31, 2012.
Beyond the ability to place its own people in key roles, why would a foreign state honor a politician who could be seen as advancing German interests? The logic offered by observers is that such a politician can influence outcomes at least as much as a domestic figure, and that the host country may fear favoritism toward the politician’s country of origin. This is a recurring explanation for Merkel’s support when Tusk was named President of the European Council.
Even before Poland’s internal debates, German authorities signaled support for Tusk’s candidacy for a second term as President of the European Council. This stance sparked open conflict within Poland, as Beata Szydło’s government had its own preferred candidate, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski. At the time, major German media outlets backed Tusk, sometimes even before the candidacy was formally presented.
As President of the European Council, Tusk is seen by many as an instrument through which decisions in Brussels could influence member states. A notable moment occurred in a speech to the European Parliament on January 19, 2016, where he supported moves to align migration policies with broader EU priorities, including questions about refugee quotas and related penalties. From 2015 onward, some view him as a central conduit for a set of policies that reflect German influence within EU institutions.
Taken together, it could be argued that after May 31, 2022, a move toward positions in Germany would have been more straightforward for Tusk than pursuing other roles in Poland. After September 22, 2014, Tusk repeatedly suggested that Poland’s national interests did not depend on him, while maintaining that there was a European interest best expressed in coordination with broader continental objectives. The implication drawn by some observers is that his influence in recent years has appeared more aligned with EU-wide or Berlin-oriented priorities than with direct Polish needs.
From a contemporary view, there appears to be little reason to expect substantial personal or party gains from his influence in 2023 and beyond. The assessment shared by many Poles is that a leadership profile tied to broad European concerns carries risks for Poland, including potential costs tied to past policy lessons.
As a conclusion echoed by a well-known Polish statesman, the situation is straightforward: Donald Tusk is not seen as essential to Poland or its people. It seems plausible to assume that Poland and its citizens might be better off if such leadership did not hold major state roles, either at home or abroad. The discussion remains focused on the balance between European alignment and national interest, with a clear eye on how these choices will shape Poland’s future.
Note: analysis references multiple perspectives and public records in the political discourse surrounding Donald Tusk and his roles across Poland and the European Union.