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Times
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Times
Poland's PM Donald Tusk strikes defiant tone after winning confidence vote
Poland's beleaguered prime minister has won a confidence vote, shoring up his position after a right-wing populist opponent took the presidency. Donald Tusk struck a defiant tone in parliament and insisted that his government would not yield by 'so much as a millimetre' amid conjecture that his already fractured coalition might disintegrate after the election. Tusk, who returned to power 18 months ago, had his ambitions for liberalising social reforms and a wholesale clean-out of the public sector repeatedly frustrated by the outgoing President Duda, who is close to the nationalist opposition. The prime minister's centre-right Civic Platform party had high hopes of breaking the blockade by getting Rafal Trzaskowski, the liberal mayor of Warsaw and an ally of Tusk, elected president in Duda's place. Yet Trzaskowski's lead in the polls evaporated and he lost to Karol Nawrocki, another opposition figure, who has vowed to intensify Duda's veto tactics after he takes office in August. • Who is Poland's new president? The defeat leaves Tusk's coalition at risk of being unable to present any significant legislation without it being rejected by Nawrocki. That has in turn led to calls for Tusk to stand down and call an early election instead of serving out his remaining two and a half years as premier. Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the most powerful figure in the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, has urged Tusk to make way for an interim cabinet of technocrats who would hold the fort until voters elect a new government aligned with the Nawrocki presidency. Yet Tusk resolved to fight on, using a vote of confidence in his own leadership to compel his coalition partners to reaffirm their loyalty. 'I don't know the meaning of the word 'capitulation',' he told MPs. 'There is no talk of it.' Fielding more than a hundred questions during a debate that dragged on for more than six hours, he announced that he would reshuffle his cabinet next month and hinted that he would abolish a number of ministries to fix what he described as a 'dysfunctional structure' in the administration. 'There is no political earthquake, but let's be honest: we face two and a half years of very hard, serious work under conditions that are unlikely to improve,' Tusk said. He suggested that his government's image problems had stemmed as much from understating its successes and a 'festival of lies from the opposition' as from its struggles to enact the promises it had made to the electorate: 'Perhaps we have overdone it with the belief that the truth will defend itself.' • How Poland's new president will halt the march of liberal reforms During the ensuing debate, PiS MPs lined up to accuse Tusk of losing control of the public finances and mismanaging projects of national prestige such as a container port near Szczecin and the country's nuclear research reactor facility. Radoslaw Fogiel, an influential PiS MP, told The Times that the confidence vote had been 'irrelevant' and 'nothing more than political theatre' intended to distract voters from the presidential election defeat. 'Donald Tusk's government has record-low approval ratings, has failed to deliver on most of its promises, does not respond to the aspirations of the Polish people, and is focused solely on fighting the opposition,' Fogiel said. Michal Wojcik, a former deputy justice minister, told Tusk's coalition benches: 'You are the Huns of Polish politics. You, like those nomads who invaded Europe many centuries ago, destroyed and pillaged, but lost. The Hun empire fell because it came into contact with the forces of democracy.' Ultimately, however, Tusk carried the day by 243 votes to 210, implying that all of the MPs in his coalition had remained by his side.
Euronews
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Poland's PM Donald Tusk defends government ahead of confidence vote
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk defended his centrist, pro-European government before parliament on Wednesday, seeking to reassert control and rally his fractured coalition after suffering a bitter political defeat. Tusk requested a vote of confidence in the wake of the loss of Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, a close ally, to conservative Karol Nawrocki in the 1 June presidential runoff. Backed by US President Donald Trump, Nawrocki is set to replace outgoing President Andrzej Duda, another Law and Justice or PiS party-backed conservative who repeatedly blocked Tusk's reform efforts. "I am asking for a vote of confidence with full conviction that we have a mandate to govern, to take full responsibility for what is happening in Poland," Tusk, who heads the Civic Platform (PO) coalition, said in Warsaw. "Anyone who is ready to move forward with me, with the government, and above all with our voters, regardless of these momentary emotions, and build a better Poland, should vote today for a vote of confidence in our government," Tusk said. The vote, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday afternoon, is widely expected to go in Tusk's favour. His four-party coalition holds a narrow but stable majority in the 460-seat Sejm, Poland's lower house of parliament. A loss would trigger the formation of a caretaker government and may open the door for an early parliamentary election. That could potentially return power to the conservative Law and Justice party, in coalition with the far-right Confederation party, whose candidate placed third in the presidential race. Tusk had long counted on a Trzaskowski victory to break the institutional deadlock created by Duda's vetoes. Instead, he now faces an incoming president aligned with the nationalist opposition and openly hostile to his government's legislative priorities. "We cannot close our eyes to reality," he said. "A president who was reluctant to accept the changes we proposed for Poland and our voters is being replaced by a president who is at least equally reluctant to those changes and proposals." But he also argued that Trzaskowski's narrow defeat indicates that there is continued strong support for those who share his views. The election result rattled the already uneasy governing coalition, which spans from centre-left to centre-right and has struggled to deliver on key campaign pledges, including liberalising Poland's abortion law and legalising same-sex civil unions. Tusk acknowledged the growing strains in Wednesday's address. Many are also blaming Tusk for contributing to Trzaskowski's loss. Much of the criticism has come from within his coalition, as his partners examine whether they are better off sticking with him or risking a collapse of the coalition. Some are calling for a new prime minister to be selected. There are questions about what Tusk can realistically achieve before the next parliamentary election, scheduled for late 2027, and whether the coalition will even survive that long amid a surge in popularity for the far right. Polish media and political analysts are debating whether this might be the 68-year-old Tusk's political twilight. "I know the taste of victory, I know the bitterness of defeat, but I don't know the word surrender," Tusk said. As part of his fresh start, he announced plans for a government reconstruction in July that will include "new faces." He said a government spokesman would be appointed in June, an acknowledgement that the coalition needs a way to present a unified message. So far Tusk has sought to communicate his policies to the public himself on social media and in news conferences. Tusk served as Polish prime minister from 2007 to 2014 and then as president of the European Council from 2014 to 2019. He became Poland's prime minister again in December 2023 in a country hit by the pandemic and inflation and facing significant political divisions. In a sign of those divisions, half of the parliament hall was empty on Wednesday, with lawmakers from the right-wing PiS party boycotting his speech. Tusk said their absence showed disrespect to the nation. Most of the power in Poland's parliamentary system rests with an elected parliament and a government chosen by the parliament. However, the president can veto legislation and represent the country abroad.
Al Jazeera
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Seeking fresh start, Poland's Tusk faces confidence vote
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk says his pro-European Union coalition has the mandate to govern ahead of a crucial confidence vote in parliament. Tusk called the vote as he seeks to regain momentum after his ally Rafal Trzaskowski was defeated by nationalist Karol Nawrocki in the country's presidential election earlier this month, prompting predictions of his government's demise. Tusk, whose fractious centrist coalition built around his Civic Platform party holds 242 seats in the 460-seat Sejm, or lower house, is expected to survive the vote, which could potentially trigger early elections, not scheduled until 2027. 'Governing Poland is a privilege,' Tusk told politicians ahead of the vote on Wednesday. 'We have a mandate to take full responsibility for what's going on in Poland.' He listed higher defence spending and a cut in his government's visa issuance for migrants as major achievements since he took power in October 2023 from the nationalist Law and Justice party (PiS). But a win is unlikely to bring the 'new beginning' the 68-year-old leader is hoping for after this month's presidential race left his coalition rattled, raising questions over his leadership against a backdrop of surging support for the far-right in the country of 38 million. Following the presidential election, there has been growing criticism that Tusk's government has underdelivered on its campaign promises, failing to fulfil pledges of liberalising abortion laws, reforming the judiciary and raising the tax-free income threshold. Tensions within the governing coalition, particularly with the Polish People's Party (PSL), which advocates for socially conservative values and wants more curbs on immigration, could spell more trouble. President-elect Nawrocki, an admirer of US President Donald Trump, is also an EU-sceptic who is expected to work to boost the opposition PiS party that backed him. An SW Research poll for Rzeczpospolita daily showed that about a third of Poles thought Tusk's government would not survive until the end of its term in 2027. Polish presidents can veto legislation passed by the parliament, a power that will likely hamper reform efforts by Tusk's government, such as the planned introduction of same-sex partnerships or easing a near-total ban on abortion. It could also make ties with Brussels difficult, particularly over rule of law issues, as Nawrocki has expressed support for the controversial judicial reforms put in place by the previous PiS government. Ties with Ukraine could become more tense as Nawrocki opposes Ukraine's membership of NATO and has been critical of the support for Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Nawrocki is expected to begin his five-year mandate formally on August 6 once the election result has been legally validated. The election commission has found evidence of counting errors in favour of Nawrocki in some districts. Parliament speaker Szymon Holownia, a government ally, said there was 'no reason to question the result'. Tusk previously served as Polish prime minister from 2007-2014 and then as president of the European Council from 2014–2019. He resumed his leadership of the country as prime minister again in December 2023.
The Guardian
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk faces vote of confidence in parliament
Update: Date: 2025-06-11T07:10:37.000Z Title: Tusk Content: is starting his speech now. Curiously, most MPs from the main opposition party, Law and Justice, are not in the chamber. Update: Date: 2025-06-11T07:06:16.000Z Title: Morning opening: Embattled Tusk seeks fresh start Content: Polish prime minister Donald Tusk will face a vote of confidence in parliament this afternoon as he seeks to bounce back from his party's presidential election defeat two weeks ago. Warsaw centrist mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, Tusk's deputy in the Civic Platform party, unexpectedly lost the presidency to right-wing populist Karol Nawrocki, backed by the opposition Law and Justice party, sparking questions over the government's future. Unusually, the vote was called by Tusk himself in a bid to shore up his fragile coalition, demonstrate a clear political mandate to govern, and reset the narrative ahead of the 2027 parliamentary election. But the build up to today's vote revealed bitter personal and ideological divisions and disagreements within the coalition, as leading politicians publicly blamed each other for the government's shortcomings and poor delivery on their flagship promises. The government, which came to power in late 2023, promised to reverse the erosion of democratic checks and balances that had marked the eight-year rule of the Law and Justice party (PiS). But it faced a politically hostile presidency in the conservative incumbent, Andrzej Duda, who yielded the blocking power of veto. With Nawrocki elected for a five-year term, the government has to learn how to live with a difficult president or face a complete paralysis. On paper, the governing coalition has a clear majority in the Sejm, with 242 MPs in the 460-seat chamber. But some government lawmakers indicated they were not happy with the prime minister, and would like to see radical changes in the top team and its priorities. Others were reportedly approached by PiS leaders looking for an alternative, right-wing majority in the parliament. What could possibly go wrong. Tusk is scheduled to kick the debate off shortly, with the main vote expected around 2pm Warsaw time (1pm BST). I will bring you all the key updates here. It's Wednesday, 11 June 2025, it's Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live. Good morning.
Indian Express
04-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
How Poland's new conservative President, a Trump ally, may upend its EU relations
Karol Nawrocki, a 42-year-old historian and political newcomer, narrowly won Poland's presidency on Monday (June 2). Backed by the nationalist-conservative Law and Justice Party (PiS), he defeated centrist rival Rafał Trzaskowski, with 50.89 per cent of the vote in Sunday's runoff election. An amateur boxer and former football hooligan, Nawrocki ran his campaign on a 'Poland First, Poles First' platform. He was endorsed by US President Donald Trump, with whom he shares many views. Nawrocki's victory signals a PiS resurgence and will put the Eurosceptic president at odds with the pro-Europe government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk of the centrist Civic Platform. For the past 18 months, Tusk's government has sought to reverse judicial reforms instituted by the previous PiS government but has faced resistance from outgoing president, Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally. In anticipation of the trend, Tusk announced on Monday that a confidence vote in his government will be held on June 11 to boost support for his coalition government. A populist at heart, Nawrocki, a relatively unknown face before the elections, was positioned as a 'people's candidate' by the PiS. The party announced him as an 'independent candidate' to distance him from the allegations of corruption and breach of law that led to the end of PiS's eight-year rule in 2023. He maintains a tough-guy image, admitting to taking part in a pre-arranged brawl between football teams. He has posted pictures of himself in the gym, firing a gun and riding a tractor. He also emphasises his family and Christian values. His wife, Marta Nawrocka, and their children, Daniel, Antoni and Katarzyna, featured heavily in his campaign. Born in the port city of Gdansk, Nawrocki comes from humble beginnings. He holds a PhD in humanities and currently heads the Institute of National Remembrance, a government agency that researches modern Polish history and investigates crimes under the Nazi occupation and the Communist period. Ties to Trump and 'Poland First' agenda Nawrocki's campaign gained a major boost from his close association with Donald Trump. Notably, Poland and the US are close allies, with 10,000 US troops stationed in Poland. However, Prime Minister Tusk has long maintained an animosity towards Trump. Both Nawrocki and Trump have publicly praised each other, and in May, Nawrocki visited the Oval Office for a photo-op with Trump during his campaign. When Nawrocki won the elections, Trump posted on his social media platform: 'TRUMP ALLY WINS IN POLAND, SHOCKING ALL IN EUROPE. NewsMax. Congratulations Poland, you picked a WINNER!' Thanking the President, Nawrocki said, 'Strong alliance with the USA, as well as partnership based on close cooperation are my top priorities.' Nawrocki has invoked the slogan 'Poland First' along the campaign trail to express his concerns on the cost of living, migration, and security. 'Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first,' he posted on his social media in April. Much like Trump, Nawrocki holds anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ and anti-immigration views. He has said that he would oppose the imposition of the EU's climate (aimed at decarbonisation) and migration policies. Euroscepticism and perceived EU overreach Responding to a congratulatory message from European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, Nawrocki called for 'respect for national sovereignty'. Nawrocki's victory has added to the list of Eurosceptic leaders, including Hungary's Viktor Orban, Italy's Giorgia Meloni and Slovakia's Robert Fico. They view the EU's policies as undermining their own government decisions. Nawrocki's rise to power comes after the recent election of a liberal mayor as Romania's president, a result pro-European leaders had hoped signalled the ebbing of the far-right tide in central Europe. Nawrocki and the PiS diverge with the EU on key issues surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Given Poland's own troubled history with Russia, Nawrocki has maintained his support for Ukraine but has opposed Kyiv's entry into alliances such as the European Union (EU) or the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). He has also spoken of the public's growing weariness with Ukrainian refugees who have added to Warsaw's costs. Nawrocki has also criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for treating Poland 'badly', echoing Trump's remarks. Challenges for the Tusk government Nawrocki's Euroscepticism threatens to hinder Poland's access to crucial EU funds. The Tusk government had pledged to reverse the controversial judicial regime from the PiS era, prompting the EU to unlock €137 billion in funding. A significant chunk of this has already been disbursed, but future cooperation may falter if Nawrocki blocks Tusk's overhauling of judicial reforms. While Nawrocki has limited executive powers, he holds a crucial right to veto legislation, spelling trouble for the Tusk government. The Tusk coalition itself has struggled to push through key electoral promises, including fewer restrictions on abortion and a civil union law for same-sex couples. Despite having a parliamentary majority, the coalition government does not have enough numbers to override the President's veto, triggering fears of a political gridlock. Aligning with Polish farmers, Nawrocki may block the Tusk government's trade deal with South American nations over concerns about cheap agricultural imports. He has also pledged to hold a referendum on the European Green Deal, which faces strong opposition from farmers, coal workers, and the automotive industry. Sonal Gupta is a senior sub-editor on the news desk. She writes feature stories and explainers on a wide range of topics from art and culture to international affairs. She also curates the Morning Expresso, a daily briefing of top stories of the day, which won gold in the 'best newsletter' category at the WAN-IFRA South Asian Digital Media Awards 2023. She also edits our newly-launched pop culture section, Fresh Take. ... Read More
