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152-601: The incumbent and eighteenth prime minister is Donald Tusk of the Civic Platform party who replaced Mateusz Morawiecki following the 2023 Polish parliamentary election , after Morawiecki's third government failed to receive a vote of confidence on 11 December 2023, which Tusk's third government subsequently received on the same day and was sworn in two days later. Tusk was also the fourteenth prime minister, between 2007 and 2014. [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Near

304-449: A bill that would legalize abortion up to 12 weeks. In foreign policy, Tusk sought to improve relations severely damaged during the previous Kaczyński government, particularly with Germany and Russia. While he criticised the words of German politician Erika Steinbach with regard to her opinion over the expulsion of Germans from Poland following World War II, Tusk has stressed the need for warm relations with Berlin. Tusk also advocated

456-484: A cautious approach to economic reform instead of implementing shock therapy , putting him at odds with the president. While Wałęsa advocated for constitutional reform to enlarge presidential prerogatives over the prime minister, Olszewski launched a campaign to deliberately embarrass the president and undermine Wałęsa's stature, releasing a list of alleged ex-communist collaborators within the Sejm, with some conspirators linked to

608-464: A choice of emigrating abroad; five took that choice, while the other five decided to serve the prison term. A crucial turning point for the Piłsudskiites came in 1935 with Piłsudski's death. The April 1935 Constitution , adopted a few weeks earlier, had been tailored for Marshal Piłsudski. In the absence of a successor with equal authority, a reinterpretation of the new Constitution was in order. In

760-473: A circle of Piłsudski's close associates, including Walery Sławek , Aleksander Prystor , Kazimierz Świtalski , Janusz Jędrzejewicz , Adam Koc , Józef Beck , Tadeusz Hołówko , Bogusław Miedziński , and Edward Śmigły-Rydz . It preached the primacy of the national interest in governance, and contended against the system of parliamentary democracy . Named after the Latin word for "healing" (" sanatio "),

912-689: A constituent member of the Weimar Triangle with fellow states Germany and France, Tusk showed displeasure over German Chancellor Angela Merkel 's and French President Nicolas Sarkozy 's dominating roles in eurozone negotiations, remarking to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera in January 2012 that "this should not translate into a lasting political monopoly: things cannot be left to only two capitals of Europe." After being elected prime minister, relations between Tusk and President Lech Kaczyński were often acrimonious due to different political ideologies and

1064-495: A democratically elected Sejm , a prime minister and cabinet, and an executive branch. Despite outlining a parliamentary system , the Small Constitution vested many executive powers into Piłsudski's position as Chief of State. The executive branch could select and organise cabinets (with the Sejm's consent), be responsible to the ministries for their duties, and require the countersignature of ministers for all official acts. By

1216-459: A government after Waldemar Pawlak 's failure to gather a workable coalition, enjoyed a far more amicable relationship with the president. The implementation of a new constitution in 1997 profoundly affected the relationship between the premiership and the presidency. Uncertainties over presidential and prime ministerial power that marked the Third Republic's first years were removed, eliminating

1368-532: A legal battle due to the pardoning taking place before the final verdict for both. Ultimately, the Supreme Court of Poland ruled that the pardons were not valid due to it occurring before sentencing. Both MPs ultimately took refuge in the Presidential Palace in an attempt to have Duda shield them from conviction after it was ordered they be arrested and placed in solitary confinement . Still, police entered

1520-427: A member of the winning party. The four opposition parties criticised Duda's decision as a delay tactic. The opposition parties subsequently signed a coalition agreement on 10 November, de facto taking over control of the Sejm, and agreed to nominate former Prime Minister and European Council President Donald Tusk as their candidate. Morawiecki's new cabinet , dubbed the "two-week government" and "zombie government" by

1672-523: A more realistic relationship with Moscow, especially in regard to energy policy. Under Tusk's premiership, Russian bans on Polish meat and agricultural products were lifted, while Poland reversed its official policy of disagreement on a European Union-Russian partnership agreement. During a speech delivered to the Sejm in the first weeks of his premiership, Tusk outlined a proposal to withdraw military units from Iraq, stating that "we will conduct this operation keeping in mind that our commitment to our ally,

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1824-516: A motion by the interior minister, authorise special armed units of the Policja to restore order. If such units prove ineffective in such a situation, the prime minister is authorised to call upon the president to deploy the Polish Armed Forces to bring law and order. Throughout the history of the Third Republic, the relationship between the prime minister and the president has ebbed and flowed. In

1976-590: A partial or general mobilisation in the event of a direct threat to national security. The prime minister also retains the right to appoint and dismiss the heads of the special services, including the Policja , Border Guard , ABW , AW , and the Government Protection Bureau . The heads of both the ABW and AW are entitled to directly report to the premier. In the event of public disorder, the prime minister can, upon

2128-417: A programme outlining the new government's agenda to the Sejm, requiring a vote of confidence from its deputies. In the event that a vote of confidence fails, the process of government formation passes to the Sejm, which will then nominate a prime minister within fourteen days, who will again propose the composition of the cabinet. An absolute majority of votes in the presence of at least half of all Sejm deputies

2280-406: A semi-authoritarian power behind the throne presence over the premiership and presidency. Piłsudski's August Novelisation of the 1921 Constitution retained the prime minister's post and the parliamentary system, though modified the president's powers to rule by decree, dismiss the Sejm, and decide budgetary matters. By the mid-1930s, Piłsudski and fellow Sanationists further stripped parliament and

2432-411: A son, Michał and a daughter, Katarzyna. Sanation Sanation ( Polish : Sanacja , pronounced [saˈnat͡sja] ) was a Polish political movement that was created in the interwar period , prior to Józef Piłsudski 's May 1926 Coup d'État , and came to power in the wake of that coup . In 1928 its political activists would go on to form a Nonpartisan Bloc for Cooperation with

2584-568: A spat between Tusk and President Duda , ended with the liquidation of the channel following Duda vetoing funds for it in 2023. Stanley Bill, who serves as a professor of Polish Studies at the University of Cambridge, stated that his motive could have quite possibly been personal, due to the fact TVP had been demonizing him for years under the PiS government. In February 2024, responding to protests by European farmers , Tusk said he would push for changes to

2736-506: A third time. His cabinet was sworn in on 13 December, ending eight years of government by the PiS party. Having been the longest-serving prime minister of the Third Republic , Tusk oversaw in his first term the reduction and digitization of the public sector, wishing to present himself as a pragmatic liberal realist and technocrat . In the lead up to the co-organized by Poland Euro 2012 , he invested strongly in infrastructure, expanding

2888-511: A working visit and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy . He said that all those who chose neutrality in the Russo-Ukrainian War and did not support Ukraine deserved "the darkest place in political hell." Tusk called for the West's "full mobilization." Tusk has also worked to attempt to strengthen inter-European strength in the face of Russia, proclaiming that "There is no reason for

3040-714: Is a Polish politician and historian who has served as the prime minister of Poland since 2023, previously holding the office from 2007 to 2014. From 2014 to 2019 Tusk was President of the European Council , and from 2019 to 2022 he was the president of the European People's Party (EPP). He co-founded the Civic Platform (PO) party in 2001 and has been its longtime leader, first from 2003 to 2014 and again since 2021. Tusk has been officially involved in Polish politics since 1989, having co-founded multiple political parties, such as

3192-461: Is no deal." He also said he hoped that Boris Johnson would not go down in history as "Mr No Deal." In September 2019, Tusk said that the EU should open accession talks with both Albania and North Macedonia. Tusk condemned the 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria . He reprimanded Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for threatening to send millions of Syrian refugees to Europe and denounced

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3344-445: Is required to approve the cabinet, and the president is required to accept and swear in the Sejm's nominee. If the vote of confidence fails again, the process of nomination is handed back to the presidency, who will appoint a prime minister, who will then nominate other members of the cabinet. If the vote of confidence fails a third time, the president is obliged to dissolve the Sejm and call new elections. As part of political tradition,

3496-399: Is simple in life or in history," which informed his adult political view that it is "best to be immune to every kind of orthodoxy, of ideology and most importantly, nationalism." He has described his young life under communism as "so hopeless" due to the boredom and monotony, with "no hope for anything to change." His young self was a "typical hooligan" who often got into fights – "we would roam

3648-627: Is the Chancellery. Located in the Building of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister along Ujazdów Avenue in Warsaw, the Chancellery houses the central meeting location of the cabinet. As an office, the Chancellery acts to facilitate government policy between the prime minister and the ministers, serves as the premier's support staff, and distributes the administration's information. Additionally in supporting

3800-413: The 1928 election to be relatively free, but was dealt a setback when its BBWR supporters came up far short of a majority. Before the 1930 election some opposition parties united in a Centrolew (Center-Left) coalition calling for the overthrow of the government; Sanation reacted by arresting more than 20 prominent opposition-leader Centrolew participants. Subsequently BBWR won over 46 percent of

3952-590: The 1993 parliamentary election , which brought in a relatively stable left-of-centre coalition government between the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) and the Polish People's Party (PSL), as well as Wałęsa's defeat in the 1995 presidential election by SdRP challenger Aleksander Kwaśniewski , an impetus for greater constitutional reform began to proceed. Between 1996 and 1997, a series of reform laws passed through parliament, strengthening and centralising

4104-625: The 2007 parliamentary election . Tusk's support for stronger integration into the European Union , including the signing of the Lisbon Treaty , and a rapprochement with Russia , put Kaczyński directly at odds with the prime minister. From 2007 until Kaczyński's death in the Smolensk air disaster in 2010, policy differences between the two offices were a constant source of division, with the president employing his limited veto powers numerous times over

4256-428: The 2009 swine flu pandemic , Tusk defended his government's decision not to purchase swine flu vaccine , citing the lack of testing by pharmaceutical companies and its unavailability to be purchased freely through the market. Tusk criticised other nations' responses to the pandemic. "The eagerness of some countries seems to be excessive and disproportionate to the real epidemiological situation," Tusk stated, referring to

4408-577: The 2011 military intervention in Libya and pledged to offer logistical support. Contrary to the condemnation of foreign governments and the leadership of the European Union , Tusk supported Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in his efforts of implementing a new controversial constitution . Tusk stated that the Hungarian constitution's democratic controversies were "exaggerated" and that Hungary had "a European level standard of democracy." Tusk's support for

4560-562: The Brest Fortress (hence the popular name for the November 1930 election: "the Brest election"). A number of less-known political activists across the country were also arrested; they were released after the election. The Brest trial ended in January 1932, with ten of the accused sentenced to up to three years' imprisonment; appeals in 1933 confirmed the sentences. The government gave those sentenced

4712-546: The European Green Deal . In March 2024, he insisted that Poland would go its own way "without European coercion". Tusk also oversaw the arrests of both Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik , who had both been on trial for exceeding authority since 2015. President Duda had issued pardons to both of them, and they had continued to serve as ministers and members of the Sejm as the trials proceeded. The pardons became embroiled in

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4864-640: The European Union , stating that there was a "special place in Hell for those who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely." Tusk opened his statement by saying there were 50 days to go until the UK's exit from the EU: "I know that still a very great number of people in the UK, and on the continent, as well as in Ireland, wish for a reversal of this decision. I have always been with you, with all my heart. But

5016-530: The French Third Republic , the March Constitution entrusted decision-making exclusively within the lower-house Sejm. The newly created presidency , on the other hand, became a symbolic office devoid of any major authority, stripped of veto and wartime powers. Deriving authority from the powerful Sejm, the prime minister and the council of ministers, in theory, faced few constitutional barriers from

5168-631: The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany . On 31 January 2017, Tusk wrote an open letter to the 27 EU heads of state or government on the future of the EU before the Malta summit . In this letter, he stated the Trump administration presented a threat to the EU on a par with a newly assertive China, an aggressive Russia and "wars, terror and anarchy in the Middle East and Africa." On 9 March 2017, Tusk

5320-641: The Polish Fighting Movement ( Obóz Polski Walczącej ), which in 1943 became subordinate to the Home Army and in 1944 merged along with the Council of Independence Organizations ( Konwent Organizacji Niepodległościowych ) into the Union of Independence Organizations ( Zjednoczenie Organizacji Niepodległościowych ). After World War II , Poland's Soviet-installed communist autocracy branded Sanationists as enemies of

5472-490: The Solidarity government of Tadeusz Mazowiecki faced the monumental task of formally institutionalising the office in order to define its relatively vague legal powers. As the communist state was quickly dismantled, this impasse remained due to the series of unstable governments falling in quick succession in the first years of the Third Republic. Matters were not helped by the vagueness of the presidency, whose recreation during

5624-520: The Turkish invasion of northern Syria in 2018. In response to the death of Chinese Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo , who died of organ failure while in government custody, Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker said in a joint statement that they had learned of Liu's death "with deep sadness." On 6 February 2019, Tusk held talks with Irish Premier Leo Varadkar in Brussels to discuss Britain's departure from

5776-470: The Volhynian Genocide and their proper remembrance echoing the words of Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz spoken a few days before at a press conference. The Prime Minister's statement came as a reaction to the then-Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba who suggested that this issue should be left for historians. Donald Tusk married Małgorzata Sochacka in 1978. They have two children:

5928-600: The eurozone , Tusk pressed that Poland, along with the other non-eurozone states of the EU, should be included in future euro financial negotiations. Between July and December 2011, Poland under Tusk's government presided over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union . Under its presidency tenure, Poland supported and welcomed Croatia's entry into the European Union through the Treaty of Accession 2011 . While being

6080-491: The fall of communism in 1989. In 2014, he left Polish politics to accept appointment as president of the European Council. The Civic Platform would lose control of both the presidency and parliament to the rival Law and Justice (PiS) party in the 2015 Polish parliamentary election and 2015 Polish presidential election . Tusk was President of the European Council until 2019; although initially remaining in Brussels as leader of

6232-625: The free market –oriented Liberal Democratic Congress party (KLD), and has held elected office almost continuously since 1991. He entered the Sejm in 1991, but lost his seat in 1993. In 1994, the KLD merged with the Democratic Union to form the Freedom Union . In 1997, Tusk was elected to the Senate , and became its deputy marshal . In 2001, he co-founded another centre-right liberal conservative party,

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6384-505: The parliamentary elections on 25 September, there were important differences between Tusk and Kaczyński. Tusk wanted to enforce a separation of church and state , favoured rapid European integration and supported a free-market economy . Kaczyński was very socially conservative , a soft Eurosceptic , and supported state intervention . Such differences led to the failure of POPiS coalition talks in late October. Jacek Protasiewicz headed his electoral campaign staff. Tusk's campaign motto

6536-533: The rule of law , warming up relations between Poland and the EU. Since then, as PM, Tusk has continued the aid to Ukraine after the Russian invasion . In 2024, he surprised the public opinion with his appropriation of right-wing themes, such as opposition to illegal migration, prioritizing border security, going as far as to suspend the right of asylum for those who cross the Belarus–Poland border illegally. Tusk

6688-500: The upper house altogether, yet due to constitutional concerns and demands from the junior coalition Polish People's Party partner, Tusk proposed reducing the Senate from 100 to 49, while including former presidents to sit in the Senate for political experience and expertise in state matters. Parliamentary immunity for all members of the Sejm and Senate would also be stripped, except for in special situations. In addition, Tusk proposed that

6840-512: The 1939 invasion of Poland , many Sanationists evacuated to Romania or Hungary , whence they were able to go on to France or French-mandated Syria and, after the fall of France, to Britain . Though France insisted on excluding Sanationists from the Polish Government in Exile , many continued influential. During the war, Sanationists created several resistance organizations, including in 1942

6992-562: The EPP, he later returned to Polish politics in 2021, becoming leader of the Civic Platform again. In the 2023 election , his Civic Coalition won 157 seats in the Sejm to become the second-largest bloc in the chamber. Following the President -appointed Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki 's failure to secure a vote of confidence on 11 December, Tusk was elected by the Sejm to become prime minister for

7144-560: The EU to be weaker than Russia". This comes after a string of comments former president and 2024 candidate Donald Trump made saying that he would let Russia do "whatever the hell they want" to NATO countries who do not satisfy spending commitments. In May 2024, Tusk criticized the International Criminal Court 's arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leaders, saying, "An attempt to show that

7296-527: The European Council on 1 December 2014. After assuming office, Tusk worked to promote a unified European response to Russia's military intervention in Ukraine . Tusk made attempts to co-ordinate the EU's response to the European migrant crisis , and warned illegal economic migrants not to come to Europe. Ahead of the UK's EU membership referendum Tusk warned of dire consequences should the UK vote to leave. After

7448-721: The European Council , which gave Poland its first European leadership position since the fall of the Berlin Wall . Tusk resigned as prime minister and was succeeded by Marshal of the Sejm Ewa Kopacz . During the 2007 parliamentary election campaign and initially when he entered office, Tusk promised to continue the free market policies, streamline the bureaucracy, enact long-term stable governance, cut taxes to attract greater foreign business ventures, encourage Polish citizens living overseas to return to Poland, and privatise state-owned companies. Later in office, Tusk changed his views on

7600-742: The First Defender of the Fatherland and the first co-cooperator of the President of the Republic in governing the state, is to be regarded and respected as the first person in Poland after Mr. President of the Republic. All state functionaries headed by the Prime Minister are to show him signs of honor and obedience." The document violated the state order established by the April Constitution . Another result of

7752-551: The German Wehrmacht during the war. The controversy, according to the BBC , "is believed to have influenced some voters negatively." Tusk and his Civic Platform party emerged victorious in the 2007 Polish parliamentary election , defeating incumbent Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński 's Law and Justice party with about 42% of the vote to Law and Justice's 32%. Tusk and his assembled cabinet were sworn in on 16 November, as he became

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7904-576: The Government ( BBWR ). The Sanation movement took its name from Piłsudski's aspirations for a moral " sanation " (healing) of the Polish body politic . The movement functioned integrally until his death in 1935. Following his death, Sanation split into several competing factions, including "the Castle" (President Ignacy Mościcki and his partisans). Sanation, which advocated authoritarian rule , rested on

8056-468: The Government "), a pro-government grouping that denied being a political party. Although Piłsudski never claimed personal power, he exercised extensive influence over Polish politics after Sanation took power in 1926. For the next decade, he dominated Polish affairs as strongman of a generally popular centrist regime. Kazimierz Bartel 's government and all subsequent governments were first unofficially approved by Piłsudski before they could be confirmed by

8208-500: The Hungarian government garnered a rare show of solidarity with the opposition Law and Justice, which also publicly displayed support for Orbán's efforts. In early 2012, Tusk announced his support for committing Poland to signing the international Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). In response, websites for the Chancellery , Sejm and Presidency were hacked in mid-January. Following Anonymous 's claim of responsibility for

8360-622: The Mościcki-Śmigły agreement was the promotion of the general to Marshal of Poland. On November 10, 1936, President Moscicki appointed him General of the branch and at the same time Marshal of Poland and decorated him with the Order of the White Eagle . Also, the creation of the Camp of National Unity (OZN) on Śmigły's order and working under his auspices increased his influence, as a result of which it

8512-483: The PO, and was again elected to the Sejm, becoming its deputy marshal . Tusk stood unsuccessfully for President of Poland in the 2005 election and would also suffer defeat in the 2005 Polish parliamentary election . Leading the PO to victory at the 2007 parliamentary election , he was appointed prime minister, and scored a second victory in the 2011 election , becoming the first Polish prime minister to be re-elected since

8664-540: The PZPR entered into the Round Table Talks in early 1989 with leading members of the anti-communist opposition. The conclusion of the talks, along with the resulting April Novelisation of the constitution, provided various powers to the Sejm, along with reinstating both the previously dissolved upper-house Senate and the presidency as legal governmental entities. Following the partially free 1989 parliamentary election ,

8816-610: The President and the General Inspector of the Armed Forces. Another consequence of the agreement was a declaration by the Prime Minister in agreement with the President on July 16, 1936, declaring Śmigły-Rydz “the first person in Poland after Mr. President.” "In accordance with the will of Mr. President of the Republic Ignacy Mościcki, I order the following: General Śmigły-Rydz, appointed by Mr. Marshal Józef Piłsudski as

8968-419: The President. In the course of pursuing sanation , Piłsudski mixed democratic and authoritarian elements. Poland's internal stability was enhanced, while economic stagnation was ended by Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski 's economic reforms. At the same time, the Sanation regime prosecuted communist parties (on the ostensible formal grounds that they had failed to legally register as political parties) and sought to limit

9120-408: The Round Table Talks left a poorly defined yet potentially powerful office. After Lech Wałęsa 's direct 1990 election to the presidency, a tug of war between the offices of the premier and presidency regarding the powers of the two offices began, with Wałęsa arguing for increased presidential powers by drafting a new constitution, with the right to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and members of

9272-424: The Sanation movement mainly comprised former military officers who were disgusted with the perceived corruption in Polish politics. Sanation was a coalition of rightists, leftists, and centrists whose main focus was the elimination of corruption and the reduction of inflation. Sanation appeared prior to the May 1926 Coup d'État and lasted until World War II but was never formalized. Piłsudski, though he had been

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9424-466: The Sejm had the right to designate its own nominee for prime minister, and Duda was required to appoint the person so designated. On paper, the four parties who signed the agreement had the votes to designate Tusk as the Sejm's candidate. Morawiecki's cabinet lost a vote of confidence in the Sejm on 11 December by 190 votes to 266. The Sejm subsequently nominated Tusk as its candidate for prime minister, by 248 votes in favour and 201 against. Tusk's cabinet

9576-451: The Sejm, the cabinet can be forced to resign in a constructive vote of no confidence . The motion must be approved by at least 46 deputies, and then passed by a majority vote. In such an event, a new prime minister must be simultaneously appointed. Additionally, the premier must submit the resignation of their cabinet at the first sitting of a newly elected parliament, as well as after a vote of no confidence has been successfully passed against

9728-485: The Sejm. Between them, Civic Coalition and two other opposition parties, Third Way and New Left , took 54% of the vote, winning enough seats to allow them to take power. On 10 November, Civic Coalition, New Left, the Polish People's Party and Poland 2050 formally signed an agreement to support Tusk as their candidate for prime minister. President Andrzej Duda nominated PiS incumbent Mateusz Morawiecki for another term as prime minister. However, Morawiecki fell short of

9880-481: The Turkish operation in northern Syria as destabilizing the region, which he demanded to halt. Writing of his tenure as President of the European Council, LSE political scientist Sara Hagemann said "he set the tone for a liberal and progressive agenda at a time of significant threat from populist and pro-Russian voices in Europe." In July 2021, Donald Tusk returned to Warsaw, re-engaging actively in Polish politics as leader of Civic Platform . As of May 2022, Tusk

10032-438: The UK voted to leave, he pursued a hard line on the UK's withdrawal from the European Union stating that the country's only real alternative to a "hard Brexit" is "no Brexit." In September 2018, he caused controversy after his official Instagram account posted an image of himself handing a slice of cake to British Prime Minister Theresa May , with the caption "A piece of cake, perhaps? Sorry, no cherries." In 2018, Tusk opposed

10184-435: The United States, has been lived up to and exceeded." The last Polish military units completed their withdrawal in October 2008. In regard to U.S. plans of hosting missile defense shield bases in the country, Tusk hinted skepticism toward the project, saying that their presence could potentially increase security risks from Russia, and rejected U.S. offers in early July 2008. By August, however, Tusk relented, and supported

10336-439: The ability of the president to fully disrupt the government, and further strengthening the prime minister's position. Under President Aleksander Kwaśniewski, Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek 's government became the first administration to be elected under the new constitution. Despite being from opposite parties (Kwaśniewski's centre-left Social Democracy of the Republic of Poland and Buzek's centre-right Solidarity Electoral Action ),

10488-441: The budget is blocked by Duda. After Duda signed the budget, Tusk said sending the signed bill to the Constitutional Tribunal wouldn't change anything. "The budget is approved and that was the goal. The rest doesn't matter. People will get the money, nothing will stop it now.". On 29 March 2024 Polish President vetoes bill restoring access to emergency contraception. In a statement, Duda’s office outlined that his motivation in rejecting

10640-447: The cabinet, the Chancellery also houses various executive departments answerable directly to the prime minister outside of the council of ministers, including the Economic Council, the Protection Office, and the Civil Service Department. The official residence of the prime minister is Willa Parkowa, located several minutes' walk from the Chancellery next to Łazienki Park . However, the previous Prime Minister Donald Tusk chose to reside in

10792-425: The cabinet. Although Wałęsa later recanted his attempts to create a presidential system , the president continued to advocate for a semi-presidential model similar to that of the French Fifth Republic . The passage of the Small Constitution in 1992, which dispensed with the communist 1952 version, clarified several presidential prerogatives over the prime minister, including the president's right to be consulted on

10944-587: The case with contemporary fascist regimes. From 1929, the semi-official newspaper of Sanation, and thus of the Polish government, was Gazeta Polska (the Polish Gazette ) . The Sanation government invalidated the May 1930 election results by disbanding the parliament in August. New elections were scheduled for November 1930. Using anti-government demonstrations as a pretext, 20 opposition-party members, including most of

11096-453: The cause of the crash. Szydło refused to sign the EU statement issued at the end of the council's meeting in protest at Tusk's reelection, though other EU leaders spoke in favour of him; Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands called him "a very good president," and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and German chancellor Angela Merkel both made statements supporting

11248-694: The coastal city of Sopot , near his native Gdańsk in Pomeranian Voivodeship . The prime minister receives security from the Government Protection Bureau ( Biuro Ochrony Rządu ) while in office, as well as for six months after departing from the Chancellery. Since the inception of the Third Republic, sixteen individuals have occupied the post. The shortest-serving government was the third government of Mateusz Morawiecki , lasting for 16 days between November and December 2023. The longest-serving prime minister has been Donald Tusk, who held

11400-464: The constitution and other laws of the Republic of Poland, and that the good of the Homeland and the prosperity of its citizens shall forever remain my supreme obligation." The oath may also be finished with the additional sentence, "So help me God." Article 148 of the constitution stipulates that the prime minister shall act as the representative of the cabinet as a whole, delegate its agendas, coordinate

11552-531: The constitution so that the centre of power lies with the government... The presidential veto brings more harm than good.". In 2015 in a short period of time relations between President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz were tense too. On 31 May 2015 Duda announced the resolution electing him president during the ceremony. He appealed for no major political changes to be made before his swearing-in, as well as no changes "that may arouse unnecessary emotions and create conflicts." The prime minister noted that

11704-448: The constitutional role of the presidency. Using presidential veto powers, Kaczyński blocked legislation drafted by the Tusk government, including pension reform, agricultural and urban zoning plans, and restructuring state television. In his premiership, Tusk has proposed various reforms to the Polish constitution . In 2009, Tusk proposed changes to the power of the presidency , by abolishing

11856-417: The council of ministers or upon their own individual resignation. In the event of the prime minister's resignation or death, the president can either accept or refuse the cabinet's resignation of office. For the regional governments of the voivodeships , the prime minister is empowered to appoint a voivode for each of the republic's sixteen provinces, who supervises the central government's administration in

12008-585: The early 1920s, rightist nationalists within parliament, particularly Roman Dmowski and other members of the Popular National Union party and the Endecja movement, advocated reforms to the republic's structure to stem the authority of the chief of state (and ultimately Piłsudski) while increasing parliamentary powers. The result was the Sejm's passage of the March Constitution of 1921 . Modeled after

12160-498: The early to mid-1990s, the relationship largely depended on different interpretations of the vague, legal prerogatives of each office at the time, though since the passage of the Constitution of 1997, political preferences and individual personalities have characterised the relationship. Conflicts between the two offices, however, have generated party splits and political paralysis in the past. Both before and after his 1990 election to

12312-648: The end of the First World War , an assortment of groups contested to proclaim an independent Polish state. In early November 1918, a socialist provisional government under Ignacy Daszyński declared independence, while a separate committee in Kraków claimed to rule West Galicia . In Warsaw , the German - Austrian appointed Regency Council agreed to transfer political responsibilities to Marshal Józef Piłsudski , recently released from Magdeburg fortress, as Chief of State of

12464-497: The end. That's what Poles pay it for," said Kopacz. The dispute between the president and the prime minister continues. Neither during the ceremony at Westerplatte nor immediately after did the politicians decide to talk. Even though Duda and Kopacz were standing next to each other, they did not shake hands.". Duda's relationships with the conservative prime ministers Beata Szydło and Mateusz Morawiecki were virtually free of conflict. Duda sparingly used his veto powers in legislation

12616-403: The euro by 2012, Tusk envisaged in 2009 a starting year of 2015 as "a realistic and not overly-ambitious goal." However, during the European sovereign debt crisis , Tusk and his government displayed less optimism in joining the monetary union under contemporary economic circumstances, leading to Finance Minister Jan Vincent-Rostowski calling any move "unthinkable." Despite not being a member of

12768-462: The expense of the presidency, which lost the rights to consult ministerial appointments, reject the prime minister's cabinet selection or reshuffles, chair the cabinet, and to veto the budget, although veto powers in other areas remained. Additionally, the previous communist-era Office of the Council of Ministers ( Urząd Rady Ministrów ) was reformed into the Chancellery in 1997 to act as the premier's executive central office and support staff, assisting

12920-424: The facilitation and coordination of policy among members of the cabinet. The reforms between 1996 and 1997, codified under the constitution, made the prime minister the centre of legal authority within the government. According to Article 154 of the Constitution of Poland, the prime minister is nominated by the president. However, the nomination process is not solely dictated by presidential preference. By convention,

13072-699: The facts are unmistakable. At the moment, the pro-Brexit stance of the UK Prime Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition, rules out this question. Today, there is no political force and no effective leadership for Remain. I say this without satisfaction, but you can't argue with the facts." On 24 August 2019 in Biarritz for the G7 Summit , Tusk addressed reporters regarding Brexit, stating "one thing I will not cooperate on

13224-528: The former leader of the Polish Socialist Party , had grown to disapprove of political parties , which he saw as promoting their own interests rather than supporting the state and the people. For this reason, the Sanation movement never led to the creation of a political party. Instead, in 1928 Sanation members created a Bezpartyjny Blok Współpracy z Rządem ( BBWR , " Nonpartisan Bloc for Cooperation with

13376-490: The fourteenth prime minister of the Third Polish Republic. In the 2011 Polish parliamentary election , Civic Platform retained their Parliamentary majority, giving Tusk a second term as prime minister and making him Poland's first PM to win reelection since the fall of communism. In September 2014, leaders of the European Union voted unanimously by selecting Tusk as Herman van Rompuy 's successor for President of

13528-482: The government's legislation; Tusk's government lacked a 60 percent threshold to overturn such vetoes. In response, Tusk made no secret his party's desire to replace Kaczyński in the 2010 presidential election . Although Tusk and Kaczyński found several areas of compromise, clashes between the Chancellery and the Presidential Palace became a regular feature in both the domestic and international political scenes for

13680-542: The government's relations with the president are defined in the Constitution: "This is indeed a surprising appeal. Please remember that the constitution regulates even friendly relations between the head of state and the government. The government has its duties, but also obligations towards Poles." She assured that her government had already fulfilled 90 percent of its announcements made in the expose and would continue to implement its programme. "The government should work until

13832-584: The highway network at the cost of rail, which helped the Polish economy uniquely avoid the Great Recession . In the second term, various scandals, unfulfilled promises and a cooling of the economy in 2012–2014 as a result of his European debt crisis -related austerity policies led to a drop of public support. In the landscape dominated by the PiS after its electoral victories, as an influential holdout he opposed what he considered its democratic backsliding . Returning to power in 2023, he has focused on improving

13984-424: The influence of opposition parties by splitting their forces. A distinguishing feature of the regime was that, unlike the situation in most of non-democratic Europe, it never transformed itself into a full-blown dictatorship. Freedom of press, speech, and political parties was never legally abolished, and opponents were usually dealt with via "unidentified perpetrators" rather than court sentences. Sanation allowed

14136-632: The leaders of the Centrolew alliance (Socialist, Polish People's Party "Piast" , and Polish People's Party "Wyzwolenie" leaders) were arrested in September 1930 without warrants , on the mere order of Piłsudski and the Minister of Internal Security, Felicjan Sławoj Składkowski , and accused of plotting an anti-government coup . The opposition leaders (including the former prime minister Wincenty Witos , and Wojciech Korfanty ) were imprisoned and tried in

14288-432: The legislation was to “protect the health of children”. He is opposed to the fact that the law would have allowed anyone aged 15 and above (Poland’s age of sexual consent) to buy the morning-after pill without the involvement of a doctor. The bill to restore prescription-free access to the 'morning-after pill' came from Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government , Tusk wrote on platform X "The president did not take advantage of

14440-476: The like-minded social democratic premierships of Leszek Miller and Marek Belka were virtually free of conflict. Relations between the two executive organs, however, returned to animosity under the presidency of Lech Kaczyński and Prime Minister Donald Tusk . Political rivals for years, fueled by the 2005 presidential poll which saw both men as the main challengers, Tusk's centre-right Civic Platform toppled Kaczyński's twin brother Jarosław's government in

14592-658: The media due to its anticipated short-livedness, was sworn in on 27 November 2023. Duda said he would veto the government’s amended 2024 spending bill and propose his own, in a challenge to Tusk. In a post on the social media platform X , Duda cited the bill’s funding of public media, and said blocking it was appropriate “in view of the flagrant violation of the constitution.” Tusk himself tweeted that “the president’s veto takes away money from teachers”, to which Duda responded that if “you convene [parliament] after Christmas and pass by bill, which will included raises for teachers”, then they would not lose out. On 31 January 2024, Duda signed

14744-407: The ministers of Defence , Foreign Affairs , and Interior . Although Wałęsa enjoyed a conflict free relationship with Prime Minister Hanna Suchocka , power rifts remained after the Small Constitution's passage, particularly with the Sejm, which Wałęsa repeatedly attempted to dissolve, influence its appointments, and shift its constitutional reform agenda towards the presidency's favour. However, by

14896-587: The missile shield, declaring: "We have achieved the main goal. It means our countries, Poland and the United States will be more secure." Following President Barack Obama 's decision to scrap and revise missile defense strategy, Tusk described the move as "a chance to strengthen Polish-US co-operation in defense..." He said: "I took this declaration from President Obama very seriously and with great satisfaction." Tusk announced that Polish soldiers would not take military action in Libya, although he voiced support for

15048-463: The national budget, agreed by the government, but sent it swiftly to the constitutional court citing doubts over its adoption. Although the budget was passed with a large majority, the absence of the two MPS, whose parliamentary mandates were annulled over criminal convictions, meant the National Assembly was not at full capacity when the vote took place. Tusk warned on Tuesday of a snap election if

15200-568: The new Polish nation. Piłsudski summoned Daszyński to the capital to form a government, where Piłsudski agreed to appoint Daszyński as the republic's first prime minister. Daszyński's premiership, however, remained brief, after the politician failed to form a workable coalition. Piłsudski turned instead to Jędrzej Moraczewski , who successfully crafted a workable government for the Second Republic 's first months of existence. The Small Constitution of 1919 outlined Poland's form of government, with

15352-421: The next two and a half years. Frustrated by Kaczyński's veto, Tusk argued for a constitutional amendment in November 2009 to strip the presidency of its veto powers, declaring: "The president should not have veto power. People make their decision in elections and then state institutions should not be in conflict...Let us change some provisions so we can have fewer conflicts and more cooperation. We propose changes to

15504-402: The office's power and prestige relied more on the individual's stature within the governing communist party than the position's actual constitutional authority. The office acted as an administrative agent for policies carried out by the PZPR's Politburo , rather than relying on the support of the rubber stamp Sejm. In face of growing protests from the Solidarity movement for much of the 1980s,

15656-478: The opportunity to stand on the side of women. We are implementing plan B".. In April 2024, the Polish Sejm took a significant step by approving a bill that recognizes Silesian as an official regional language in Poland. This recognition was accepted by the Senate , however on 29th of May 2024 The President has vetoed the bill. The president’s decision, which had been widely expected, was criticised by figures from

15808-558: The palace and arrested the two men. The episode highlighted growing tensions between the prime minister and the president. In October 2024, Tusk announced plans to temporarily suspend the right of migrants to seek asylum in Poland, citing abuses by people smugglers aided by Belarus and Russia . The plan, which is part of the government's new migration strategy, initially proved controversial but ultimately met with approval from other EU leaders. On 22 January 2024, Tusk arrived in Kyiv, Ukraine on

15960-547: The pandemic's relatively low fatality rate. Tusk is moderately conservative on social issues. He is opposed to legalising abortion on demand, believing that current Polish legislation on abortion at that time (which allowed for legal abortion only when the pregnancy threatens the woman's life or health, when the fetus is seriously malformed, and when the pregnancy results from rape or incest) protected human life best. Tusk has publicly stated that he opposes euthanasia . In June 2022, Tusk changed his stance on abortion, supporting

16112-405: The party won seats in the year's election. In the shade of the upcoming expiration of President Aleksander Kwaśniewski 's second term and his inability to stand for a third term, Tusk and Lech Kaczyński were the leading candidates for the presidential elections. Although both leading candidates came from the centre-right, and their two parties had planned to form a coalition government following

16264-520: The peak level attained in 2006–07, before Tusk entered office. The number of Poles living abroad in 2013 was almost the same level as in 2007. During his government, Tusk oversaw the austerity programme. The construction of a more adequate and larger national road network in preparation for the UEFA 2012 football championships was a stated priority for Tusk's government. On 27 October 2009, Tusk declared that he wanted to partially ban gambling. During

16416-525: The person of Śmigły-Rydz , by the way, mainly by some former Colonels. The new group centered around the General Inspector steered in a nationalistic , sometimes clearly pro-totalitarian direction. The Castle Group and the “ Naprawa ” group, centered around the president, attempted to restrain these tendencies. Weak among the Piłsudskiites, the Sanation left practically broke with the camp. During

16568-694: The post of prime minister at the end of 1935, after the dissolution of the BBWR as well as the appointment of the Marian Zyndram-Kościałkowski cabinet on October 13, 1935, which ousted the orthodox Piłsudskiites, so-called Colonels , from power. The other two emerging groups in December 1935 reached an agreement and shared power, resulting in the formation of the Felicjan Slawoj-Składkowski's cabinet on 15 May 1936, consisting of representatives of

16720-566: The premier's personality. The prime minister cannot, however, hold the presidency nor any other high state office, such as the chairmanships of the Supreme Chamber of Control , the National Bank of Poland , or the Ombudsman for Citizens Rights , simultaneously. With the power to distribute and reshuffle cabinet members, the prime minister can also discharge the functions of a minister. Similarly,

16872-469: The premier's powers by enacting a new constitution , effectively establishing a strong "hyper-presidency" by 1935. The new constitution allowed for the president to dismiss parliament, the right to freely appoint and dismiss the prime minister, members of the cabinet and the judiciary at will, and promulgated the presidency as the supreme power of the state. Until the outbreak of the Second World War and

17024-611: The premier's responsibilities and legal standing. The President, however, does not need the prime minister's countersignature for a limited selection of other acts, including the appointment of judges, conferring orders and decorations, appointing a president to the Supreme Court of Poland , exercising pardons , making a referral to the Constitutional Tribunal , or appointing members to the National Broadcasting Council . The presidency's most significant power over

17176-927: The premiership continuously from 16 November 2007 to 22 September 2014, and again since 13 December 2023. To date, three women, Hanna Suchocka, Ewa Kopacz, and Beata Szydło, have served as prime ministers. Suchocka, along with Tadeusz Mazowiecki and Jerzy Buzek, are the only Polish prime ministers, as of yet, to be invited into the Club of Madrid .     Democratic Union (UD)     Liberal Democratic Congress (KLD)     Centre Agreement (PC)     Polish People's Party (PSL)     Social Democracy (SdRP) / Democratic Left Alliance (SLD)     Solidarity Electoral Action (AWS)     Law and Justice (PiS) / United Right (ZP)     Civic Platform (PO) / Civic Coalition (KO) Donald Tusk Defunct Donald Franciszek Tusk (born 22 April 1957)

17328-415: The presidency require the prime minister's countersignature in order to become valid. Through this, the prime minister acts as a gatekeeper to the president to certain acts, while also accepting responsibility to the Sejm for the president's actions. This legal relationship, established under the constitution, attaches a significant presidential dependence on the prime minister's signature, arguably enlarging

17480-498: The presidency to garner greater power over the prime minister. In an interview with the Financial Times in January 2010, Tusk was asked if he considered running again as Civic Platform's candidate for that year's presidential election . Tusk replied that although the presidential election typically drew the most voters to the polls and remained Poland's most high-profiled race, the presidency had little political power outside of

17632-438: The presidency to pass and proceed with legislation. In reality, however, the premiership remained extraordinarily insecure due to the harsh political climate of the early Second Republic, marked by constant fluctuating coalitions within parliament. Fourteen governments and eleven prime ministers rose and fell between 1918 and 1926, with nine governments alone serving during the five-year March Constitution era. Deeply frustrated with

17784-402: The presidency, Lech Wałęsa had a deeply strained relationship with Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki, stemming from Wałęsa's belief that Mazowiecki was not aggressive enough in the dismissal of former Polish United Workers' Party members from senior government and economic positions. Mazowiecki's famous 1989 Thick Line speech ( gruba kreska ) further exacerbated the splintering. The split between

17936-412: The president did not agree with. The most known were Lex TVN and Lex Czarnek . Relations between the two executive organs, however, returned to animosity under the presidency of Duda and Prime Minister Tusk. United Right would be unable to govern on its own, and Duda stated his intention to re-appoint incumbent Morawiecki as Prime Minister due to the existing albeit unofficial convention of nominating

18088-447: The president nominates the leader of the party which obtained the most seats in the previous parliamentary election, or the leader of the senior partner in a coalition. The president is neither entitled to dismiss the prime minister, appoint nor dismiss individual members of the cabinet, or the council of ministers as a whole at will. Upon selection, the prime minister will propose members of the cabinet, and within fourteen days, must submit

18240-506: The president. Wałęsa was further infuriated by Olszewski's attempts to gain influence within the Polish Armed Forces by appointing Radosław Sikorski as deputy defence minister without consultation. Wałęsa repeatedly called for the Olszewski government's dismissal, which the Sejm obliged, forcing the collapse of Olszewski's coalition in June 1992. Prime Minister Hanna Suchocka, who succeeded in forming

18392-475: The presidential veto. "The president should not have veto power. People make their decision in elections and then state institutions should not be in conflict," said Tusk. Tusk again reiterated his desire for constitutional reform in February 2010, proposing that the presidential veto be overridden by a simple parliamentary majority rather than through a three-fifths vote. "Presidential veto could not effectively block

18544-463: The prime minister and the ministers take the oath of office inside the Column Hall at the Presidential Palace , in a ceremony administered by the president. Upon their inauguration, the prime minister and the ministers must take the following pledge before the head of state: "Assuming this office of prime minister [deputy prime minister, minister] I do solemnly swear to be faithful to the provisions of

18696-406: The prime minister can call upon the cabinet to repeal a regulation or order from any minister. The prime minister must answer questions from deputies during each sitting of the Sejm. The premier and other ministers are also constitutionally mandated to answer interpellations from deputies within 21 days of their submission. In accordance to Poland's semi-presidential system, most official acts of

18848-414: The prime minister is the right to veto the government's legislation, but this procedure may be overruled by a three-fifths voting majority in the Sejm. The prime minister can also submit a vote of confidence of their cabinet to the Sejm. A vote of confidence in the cabinet can be granted by at least half of all of the Sejm's deputies. Similarly, if the council of ministers loses its majority support within

19000-525: The prime minister of Israel and the leaders of terrorist organizations are the same, and the involvement of international institutions in this, is unacceptable." The leaders of Israel and Hamas are suspected of committing war crimes in the Israel–Hamas war in Gaza . In August 2024, Tusk stated that Ukraine's membership in the European Union would not be possible without resolving the issue of Polish victims of

19152-415: The prime minister's prerogatives. These reforms would form the basis of the current 1997 Constitution . Significant changes included the ability for the prime minister to call a vote of confidence, the premier's exclusive right to allocate and reshuffle ministers, and also for the prime minister to solely determine the areas of competence for ministries. Many of the prime minister's new powers were gained at

19304-483: The prime minister's role in foreign policy decisions would be greatly expanded. By decreasing the president's role in governance, executive power would further be concentrated in the prime minister, directly responsible to the cabinet and Sejm, as well as avoiding confusion over Poland's representation at international or EU summits. The opposition conservative Law and Justice party deeply criticised Tusk's constitutional reform proposals, opting in opposing legislation for

19456-468: The regions, as well as the functions of local government. The Sejm, upon a motion of the prime minister, can dissolve a local or regional government if it is flagrantly violating the constitution or legal statutes. Among the office's emergency and security powers, the prime minister can request to the president a military commander-in-chief of the Polish Armed Forces during a time of war, or order

19608-485: The relationship between both offices was smooth, partly due to Kwaśniewski's non-confrontational personality. Kwaśniewski sparingly used his veto powers in legislation the president did not agree with, choosing to let the government's concordat with the Holy See , a new lustration act and new electoral statutes to proceed without hindrance, though Kwaśniewski vetoed Buzek's privatisation plan. Kwaśniewski's relationships with

19760-535: The republic's chaotic "sejmocracy" parliamentary structure, Piłsudski led rebellious Polish Army units to overthrow the government in the May Coup of 1926, effectively ending the Second Republic's brief experiment with parliamentary democracy, as well as the prime minister's free and popular elected mandate for the next sixty years. Distrustful of parliamentary democracy, Piłsudski and his Sanation movement assumed

19912-408: The resulting exiling of the Polish government , the Sanation movement remained at the helm of a government dominated by the presidency with a weak, subordinate prime minister. Under the communist Polish People's Republic , the ruling Polish United Workers' Party (PZPR) dominated all sections of the government, as recognised under the 1952 Constitution . Although the premiership continued to exist,

20064-406: The role of taxation in the functioning of the state and his government never cut any taxes. Instead, it raised VAT from 22% to 23% in 2011, increased the tax imposed on diesel oil, alcohol, tobacco and coal, and eliminated many tax exemptions . The number of people employed in public administration also grew considerably. By 2012, the value of foreign investments in Poland had not matched

20216-533: The ruling coalition, it would allow the inclusion of Silesian in school curricula and its use within local administration in municipalities. Tusk responded on platform X "I would tell you in Silesian, Mr. President, what I think about your veto, but it is not appropriate in public".. On 16 August 2024 Duda vetoed a bill that would have disbanded a commission investigating Russian influence on Poland’s internal security from 2007 to 2022. The prime minister's executive office

20368-510: The streets, you know, cruising for a bruising." Tusk credits his interest in politics to watching clashes between striking workers and riot police when he was a teenager. He enrolled at the University of Gdańsk to study history, and graduated in 1980. While studying, he was active in the Student Committee of Solidarity , a group that opposed Poland's communist rule at the time. Tusk

20520-442: The support needed to stay in office, as PiS and its allies were 40 seats short of a majority. With this in mind, Tusk publicly announced the agreement before the new Sejm convened to show he and the opposition stood ready to govern. Morawiecki's cabinet was sworn in on 27 November, but was widely expected to lose a confidence vote. Under the constitution, if Morawiecki did not win a confidence vote within two weeks of being sworn in,

20672-513: The two men fractured the original uniting Solidarity Citizens' Committee by 1990, with intellectuals supporting Mazowiecki's new Citizens' Movement for Democratic Action , while workers supported the Centre Agreement , a political movement based around Wałęsa. Similarly, Prime Minister Jan Olszewski also retained a notoriously strained relationship with Wałęsa during Olszewski's brief government between 1991 and 1992. Olszewski proceeded with

20824-562: The veto, and preferred to remain as prime minister. While not formally excluding his candidacy, Tusk declared that "I would very much like to continue to work in the government and Civic Platform, because that seems to me to be the key element in ensuring success in the civilisational race in which we are engaged." A day after the interview, Tusk formally announced his intention of staying as prime minister, allowing his party to choose another candidate (and eventual winner), Bronisław Komorowski . Tusk succeeded Herman Van Rompuy as President of

20976-402: The vote and a large majority in both houses of parliament . The personality cult of Józef Piłsudski stemmed from his general popularity among the nation rather than from top-down propaganda; this is notable, considering Piłsudski's disdain for democracy. Sanation's ideology never went beyond populist calls to clean up the country's politics and economy; it did not occupy itself with society, as was

21128-409: The vote. Donald Tusk maintains there will be no winners from Brexit and the two years following the triggering of Article 50 will be a time of damage limitation. In February 2018, Tusk urged Turkey "to avoid threats or actions against any EU member and instead commit to good neighbourly relations, peaceful dispute settlement and respect for territorial sovereignty." Tusk also expressed concern over

21280-591: The web attack, Tusk remained undeterred by internet protests, authorising the Polish ambassador in Japan to sign the agreement, yet promised that final legislation in the Sejm would not go ahead without assurances regarding freedom to access the Internet. Despite the government's guarantees, mass protests erupted in late January, with demonstrations held in Warsaw , Kraków , Wrocław and Kielce . Further web attacks were reported on

21432-482: The website of Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski . In continental policy, Tusk strongly supported greater political and economic integration within the European Union , strongly backing the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty , standing in stark contrast to President Lech Kaczyński's vehement opposition. Tusk repeatedly stated his government's intention in bringing Poland into the Eurozone . Originally wanting to introduce

21584-412: The will of the majority in parliament, which won elections and formed the government," stated Tusk. Further constitutional reforms proposed by Tusk include reducing the Sejm from a membership of 460 to 300, "not only because of its savings, but also the excessive number of members' causes blurring certain plans and projects." Similarly, Tusk proposed radical changes to the Senate , preferring to abolish

21736-673: The words of Ignacy Matuszewski , "We must replace the Great Man with an organization." Piłsudski's death triggered Sanation's splintering, driven by two processes: competition for power and influence among Piłsudski's heirs (the wars among the diadochi – "the heirs" – as Adam Pragier termed it); and a search for a more suitable ideology which Piłsudski's supporters might accept. The intersection of personal competition and ideological differences led to discord and splintering. Eventually, Sanation devolved into three major factions: Walery Slawek's supporters lost ground after his resignation from

21888-442: The work of ministers, ensure the implementation of policy adopted by the cabinet, and issue regulations. Additionally, the prime minister acts as the superior of all civil servants. The prime minister is further assisted by a deputy prime minister (or ministers), who will act as a vice-president within the council of ministers. The make-up of the cabinet, its distributed portfolios and its governing style, however, very much depends on

22040-421: Was "President Tusk – A man with principles; We will be proud of Poland." In the election, Tusk received 36.6% of votes in the first round and then faced Kaczyński, who got 33.1% of votes in the first round. In the second round, Tusk was defeated by Kaczyński. One controversy during the election was the accusation that Tusk's grandfather, Józef Tusk , had been a Nazi collaborator during WWII , having served in

22192-713: Was a railway official who around 1941–1942 was imprisoned at the Neuengamme concentration camp ; in 1944, as a former citizen of the Free City of Danzig , he was forcibly conscripted by German authorities into the Wehrmacht . After four months, he deserted and joined the Polish Armed Forces in the West . Tusk has described the city of his youth as "a typical frontier town" with "many borders ... between ethnicities." This, together with his Kashubian ethnic ancestry and multilingual family, meant that he grew up with an awareness that "nothing

22344-412: Was among the leading choices among opposition figures for the potential future prime minister role, according to a public poll. However, his overall net approval among the general population was reported as −24.4% in the same period. During his campaign, Tusk advocated for enhanced LGBT rights . In the 2023 Polish parliamentary election , Tusk's Civic Coalition finished as the second-largest bloc in

22496-477: Was born in Gdańsk in northern Poland. He has Polish , German (maternal grandmother) and Kashubian (Donald Tusk describes himself as a Pole, Kashubian and European) ancestry. His father, Donald Tusk senior (1929–1972), was a carpenter whilst his mother, Ewa (née Dawidowska) Tusk (1934–2009), was a nurse. His maternal grandmother's language was Danzig German . His paternal grandfather, Józef Tusk (1907–1987),

22648-413: Was he who decided the ideological direction of Sanation in 1937-1939. Piłsudski's death triggered a power struggle, typical in such circumstances. There were also growing differences in political thought among the Piłsudskiites . The Colonels' group and Sławek lost, and with him the concepts of a socialized state and the Constitution as the sole regulator of state life. A new authority was created in

22800-640: Was one of the founders of the Liberal Democratic Congress (Kongres Liberalno-Demokratyczny KLD), which in the 1991 elections won 37 seats in the lower house of parliament. The KLD later merged with the Democratic Union (UD) to become the Freedom Union (UW). Tusk became deputy chairman of the new party, and was elected to the Senate in the next election in 1997. In 2001, he co-founded Civic Platform , and became deputy speaker in parliament after

22952-417: Was re-elected for a second term to run until 30 November 2019. He received 27 of 28 votes; the one vote against him came from Beata Szydło , the Prime Minister of Poland. Tusk's actions in the wake of the 2010 plane crash that killed then-Polish President Lech Kaczyński provoked opposition from Poland's governing right-wing party —critics said that Tusk's centrist government did not sufficiently investigate

23104-486: Was sworn in on 13 December. Tusk's second time in office has been far less conciliatory than his first term. One of his first moves in office involved dismissing the top executives from Telewizja Polska (the nominally independent public service broadcaster ), which had been, for years, "a propaganda machine for the PiS government". The move caused a sit-in from PiS supporters at the Telewizja Polska office, and in

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