Donald Tusk Expected to Become Poland’s Prime Minister, Returned to European Mainstream
Former European Council President Donald Tusk is poised to become Poland’s prime minister on Monday, marking a shift back towards the European Union after eight years of nationalist rule.
The Law and Justice (PiS) party, which critics say undermined judicial independence and propagated prejudice against minorities, has been in power for the past eight years. However, following an October 15 election that gave a majority to a pro-European Union coalition of parties, a significant shift is underway in Polish politics.
Tusk’s expected return as prime minister has generated high levels of anticipation and public interest. The country’s YouTube channel for legislative proceedings has received a surge in subscribers, and certain sittings have attracted over a million viewers. Even a Warsaw cinema has decided to broadcast Monday’s legislative session on the big screen, resulting in a waiting list of 2,000 people for tickets.
In a reflection of the significance of Tusk’s anticipated appointment, Poland’s first democratically elected president after the fall of communism, Lech Walesa, received a standing ovation at the coalition’s event. He wore a sweater with the word “Constitution”, a symbol of condemnation against the perceived democratic backsliding under PiS.
It is almost impossible for incumbent Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to form a government, as all other parties have ruled out working with PiS. Morawiecki addressed the chamber on Monday, emphasizing the sovereign Poland that was achieved under PiS and contrasting it with Tusk’s previous term as prime minister.
One lawmaker from Tusk’s Civic Coalition (KO) grouping stood with her back to Morawiecki as he spoke to protest against his address.
The surge in public interest in Poland’s political proceedings has also been attributed to the appointment of a celebrity as a speaker of the parliament. Szymon Holownia, known for hosting a prime-time talent show, has charmed many viewers with his approach to running debates.
While Tusk’s expected appointment represents a significant shift towards the European mainstream, it also illustrates the heightened political interest and resurgence of public participation in Poland.
(Reporting by Alan Charlish, Pawel Florkiewicz, Kuba Stezycki, Anna Koper, Writing by Alan Charlish Editing by Ros Russell)
Source: Reuters