2023-12-11 22:04:11
This Monday (11), the Polish Parliament elected Prime Minister Donald Tusk as the new head of a pro-EU government, replacing the last conservative and nationalist executive. The Lower House, with a majority of representatives from the Tusk coalition since the October elections, rejected in the morning the election of a government led by the Law and Justice party (radical right).
Published on: 11/12/2023 – 21:04
4 min
In total, 248 deputies voted in favor of him, 201 against.
Controlled by Tusk’s pro-EU alliance, the Lower House of the Polish Parliament on Monday rejected the proposal for a new government from the nationalist populists in power since 2015.
After his election, the former head of the European Council thanked Poles for the trust shown during the October 15 elections.
“This is a great day for everyone who, for many years, believed that things would get better, that we would drive away the darkness, the evil,” he said.
“From tomorrow we will be able to correct the mistakes, so that everyone feels at home in Poland,” he added.
Responding to Tusk, the leader of the populist Law and Justice (PiS) party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, called him a “German agent”.
Kaczynski has long accused the Civic Coalition and Tusk himself of representing German and Russian interests.
“The Poland of my dreams is one without politicians who will act in favor of foreign states,” he declared, instead, denouncing “a social misunderstanding” and proclaiming “the end of democracy” in Poland.
The vote on Tusk’s candidacy came after a failed attempt by populists to form a new government.
During the day, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki presented his general policy speech to parliament, but immediately lost the vote of confidence by 266 votes against and 190 in favor.
Even though the coalition of pro-European forces won the legislative elections on October 15, it was to the outgoing nationalist power that President Andrzej Duda, his ally, entrusted for the first time the task of forming a government, delaying the process by almost two months. end of eight years in power of the populist nationalist camp.
Composed of the Civic Coalition (KO, center), the Third Way (Christian Democrat) and the Left, the pro-European coalition has 248 deputies, against 194 elected representatives from PiS and another 18 from the Confederation (far right) for a total of 460 seats.
On Tuesday, Tusk must, according to official announcements, present his political speech and his government, and immediately submit to the vote of confidence, before taking the oath on Wednesday to complete the procedures required by the Constitution and formally end eight years of nationalist power in Poland.
Brussels
Tusk therefore intends to be able to represent his country at the next European summit, on Thursday and Friday in Brussels.
“I look forward to working with you, starting with this week’s important European summit,” responded European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen on Monday night at X. “Your experience and strong commitment to our European values will be valuable in making Europe stronger”, he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also welcomed Tusk’s election, calling for “unity” against Moscow.
During the election campaign, Tusk managed to release millions of euros in European aid that had been frozen due to long-standing tensions between Brussels and the outgoing government.
He also said it would restore Poland’s credibility within the EU and give it an important voice amid the ongoing war in neighboring Ukraine.
“I am happy that Poland is back on the path of development,” said the historic leader of the Solidarity Union and former Polish president Lech Walesa, who participated in the parliamentary debate.
Powerful opposition
Expectations are enormous for this future pro-European government, but populist nationalists will remain a powerful opposition and will continue to control several state institutions.
Analysts speak of “a cobweb” woven by PiS around the State, more solid because Duda’s presidential term does not end until 2025 and he can use many tricks to exercise his right to veto laws approved by parliament .
PiS took advantage of the two additional months of power given to it as a gift by the head of state “to strengthen itself institutionally and financially”, political analyst Jaroslaw Kuisz told AFP.
The nationalist party thus appointed its representatives to head different institutions, with often lifetime mandates, as national prosecutors and around 150 new judges, chosen by a body criticized by Brussels due to its dependence on PiS.
(with AFP)
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