Polish government won’t support Donald Tusk for second term - RMF FM
18:28
Polish radio RMF FM on Wednesday revealed that the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) government in Poland will not support the appointment of former Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk for a second term as President of the European Council. According to Polish journalist Katarzyna Szymańska-Borginon, the government’s position on the appointment was told to Maltese PM Joseph Muscat during his visit to Warsaw on November 30. Malta will hold the EU’s rotating presidency during the first half of 2017, and the country would be expected to have some authority in convincing the Polish government to acquiesce in the decision.
Although it could be difficult for Tusk to be reappointed without PiS’ support, Tusk’s ability to once again take the reins of one of the highest positions in the EU is not out of the question. It is not a formal requirement that the appointment has unanimous approval (of all 28 Member States). The selection is made by agreement of the majority of States. Some political experts feel that several EU governments could push for his reappointment in order to “punish” the PiS regime.
PiS chairman, Jarosław Kaczyński, who has insinuated that Tusk is at least partially responsible for the Smoleńsk airplane crash that killed his brother Lech Kaczyński, said in October, “I can imagine that the government would not support Tusk for a second term, [as] there are investigations being conducted by prosecutors that could see some charges filed against him.”
On not having the backing of PiS on this issue or on future questions, Tusk has said, “I can live with that.” His first term as president will end in June, 2017.
