Poland’s new pro-EU PM, Donald Tusk, expands on his agenda
Donald Tusk, the next prime minister of Poland, unveiled his policy platform, pledging significant reform following eight years of nationalist rule. The proposals centre on repairing ties with the European Union and promising to reinstate the rule of law, which has been the source of a protracted disagreement with Brussels. Despite ideological divisions within his coalition, he has pledged to provide women with greater access to lawful abortions. Additionally, he vowed to remain a steadfast partner of the US and NATO and to defend Ukraine.
His remarks coincided with the European Court of Human Rights’ ruling that Poland was depriving same-sex couples of their legal protections and recognition, so breaching their rights. The case was launched by five Polish couples who were of the same sex and were denied marriage services by register offices due to the country’s constitution, which defines marriage as a partnership between a man and a woman. The decision may be appealed.
Prior to a vote of confidence in his proposed administration, which he eventually won by a margin of 248 votes to 201, the speech was given. In it, Mr. Tusk stated that the biggest threat to Poland’s security was an isolated nation. “I don’t think I have to persuade anyone of the significance of our alliances’ longevity or the importance of Poland’s strong position and respectability in the international community and in Europe,” he said.
“That Poland will regain the position of leader of the European Union.” Former European Council president Mr. Tusk announced that his first overseas journey would be to Brussels, where he would try to unlock around €35 billion (£30.1 billion; $37.8 billion) in EU recovery funds that Brussels had been holding up due to worries about the rule of law. The European Commission filed a lawsuit against the former right-wing Law and Justice (PiS)-led government of Poland for enacting changes that compromised the independence of the judiciary.
He will visit Tallinn a second time to meet with leaders of the Nordic and Baltic republics. He stated that among the coalition, which is made up of conservative agrarians and liberals, there were differing views on how far to liberalise the nearly total prohibition on abortion. However, he promised that the government would make efforts to ensure that women could obtain legal abortions.
He said that in order to keep supporting Ukraine, his administration will work to organise the West to combat war fatigue. But assistance for Ukraine will not come at Polish farmers’ and business owners’ expense, he continued. Uncontrolled migration, according to Mr. Tusk, is a problem, but he also suggested that policies that would protect Poland’s borders and provide for the humanitarian treatment of refugees could be developed.
Numerous individuals have perished while attempting to enter Poland from Belarus, according to NGOs, and the PiS administration has been charged of supporting pushbacks against migrants. President Andrzej Duda is scheduled to swear in the new cabinet on Wednesday.
However, the day was ruined by an incident in which far-right MP Grzegorz Braun used a fire extinguisher to extinguish candles that had recently been lighted on a menorah in the parliament for the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. The Prosecutor’s Office has been tasked with handling the matter after Mr Braun was ejected from the building. Officials from the Parliament cut his pay in half and put a six-month hold on his MP’s stipend.
Mr. Tusk called the incident a shame and unacceptable. Mr. Braun is a well-known extremist who belongs to the tiny Confederation party. Confederation is not a member of the forthcoming coalition government and has eighteen Members of Parliament.