(Warsaw) The elected head of the new pro-European government, Donald Tusk, sent several powerful messages on Tuesday in his general policy speech signing his country’s return to the European scene, its support for Ukraine at war and its desire to rebuild a deeply divided national community.
The Polish parliament will proceed in the afternoon with a vote of confidence, almost certain in the lower house of Parliament controlled by its multi-party alliance, which will put an end to eight years of populist nationalist power.
In his speech to the deputies, Mr. Tusk called on the world for “total mobilization” in favor of Ukraine in the face of the Russian offensive and assured to work “effectively in favor of Kyiv”.
The former head of the European Council also expressed his hope to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at an EU summit in Brussels this week.
He also promised to resolve the conflict on the border with Ukraine blocked by Polish truckers.
“We have already found solutions to respond as quickly as possible to the needs of Polish transporters and unblock the border,” he declared, accusing the previous government of having “abandoned” the truck drivers who have been protesting for a month.
The desire for cooperation seems mutual since the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, immediately sent his “congratulations” on Monday after the election of Mr. Tusk as prime minister.
Speaking to the lower house of Parliament, Tusk also said he would restore Poland’s credibility in the EU and give it an important voice.
“Powerful European Union”
“We are all the stronger, all the more sovereign not only when Poland is stronger, but also when the European Union is stronger,” declared Mr. Tusk, while the previous populist government maintained relations conflicting with Brussels.
He promised to restore the rule of law in his country, a source of deep discord between Warsaw and Brussels which, denouncing shortcomings in this area, blocked more than 35 billion euros intended for Poland under the Fund. relaunch of the EU.
“Yes, I will bring back these long-awaited billions from Brussels,” said Mr. Tusk, who was already Prime Minister from 2007 to 2014 and President of the European Council from 2014 to 2019.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also congratulated him on Monday, tweeting: “I look forward to working with you.”
“Your experience and your strong commitment to our European values will be valuable in forging a stronger Europe,” she added on X.
During his speech, Mr. Tusk also presented his list of ministers.
Unless there are any surprises, the new prime minister should be sworn in on Wednesday morning.
Made up of the Civic Coalition (KO, center), the Third Way (Christian Democrat) and the left, the pro-European coalition has 248 deputies, compared to 194 elected representatives from the Law and Justice party (PiS) and 18 from the Confederation (far right), out of 460 seats in total.
“Right all wrongs”
Even if the coalition of pro-European forces won the legislative elections of October 15, it was to the outgoing nationalist power that President Andrzej Duda, his ally, first entrusted the task of constituting a government, thus offering the nationalist camp populist two additional months in power.
On Monday, Parliament refused its confidence in the outgoing government of Mateusz Morawiecki before electing Mr. Tusk.
Describing the outgoing nationalist administration as years of “darkness”, Mr Tusk said on Monday his government would work to “right all wrongs”.
His archenemy, PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, hit back by accusing Mr. Tusk of being a “German agent” and lamenting “the end of democracy.”
Lech Walesa, hero of Polish freedom and Nobel laureate, known for his contempt for PiS, said on Monday he was “happy that Poland is back on the path to development”.
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 spider’s web” woven by the PiS around the State, all the more solid as Mr. Duda’s presidential term does not end until 2025 and he can do anything moment to veto laws passed by Parliament.