Leader of the Civic Coalition (KO) Donald Tusk shakes hands with leader of the Polish People’s Party (PSL) Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz after the Parliament voted in favor of him becoming the Prime Minister, in Parliament, in Warsaw, Poland, December 11, 2023. REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel
In a transformative shift, Poland’s parliament endorsed Donald Tusk as prime minister on Monday, terminating eight years of nationalist governance and paving the way for a potential thaw in relations with the European Union.
The nation finds itself in a financial quagmire with tens of billions of euros in European Union funds held hostage amid a discord with Brussels over democratic standards. However, Tusk, a former European Council president, promises a reconciliation and the release of these funds. Tusk secured 248 votes in favor, with 201 against.
Addressing the chamber post-vote, Tusk expressed gratitude to those who entrusted in a “new, wonderful Poland” and embraced this historic change.
Earlier in the day, Mateusz Morawiecki, the former prime minister from the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, faced a vote of no confidence, culminating in his downfall. Despite PiS winning the October 15 election, the party failed to secure the necessary majority to form a government, with other parties unequivocally refusing to collaborate.
While PiS projected itself as a defender of Poland’s sovereignty and identity, critics contended that the party undermined judicial independence, transformed state-owned media into a propaganda arm, and propagated bias against minorities, including immigrants and the LGBT community.
In a vivid demonstration of personal animosity, PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, immediately after the vote, accused Tusk of being a “German agent.” During the campaign, PiS consistently portrayed Tusk as beholden to Berlin.
Amid the jubilation among Tusk supporters, challenges loom large. A Constitutional Tribunal ruling declared the judicial reform legislation necessary for accessing EU funds unconstitutional. This decision also applied to penalties imposed by the EU’s top court before a final ruling. Tusk’s commitment to EU alignment faces hurdles, particularly regarding judicial reforms demanded by Brussels.
While Tusk enjoys support in Brussels as a leader capable of steering Poland back toward a pro-EU trajectory, officials emphasize that funds will remain frozen without the implementation of necessary judicial reforms.
Congratulations flooded in from abroad, including from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. However, Poland’s journey toward European reintegration faces intricate challenges, with judicial reforms entangled in the political landscape shaped by PiS.
Notwithstanding the hurdles, a record 74% turnout in the October election showcased widespread public engagement. Observers credit the surge in interest to Parliament Speaker Szymon Holownia, known for his humor during debates, and Lech Walesa, Poland’s first post-communist president, who attended the session, symbolically donning a “Constitution” sweater to express dissent against democratic erosion under PiS rule.
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