In power in the last few weeks
Tusk accuses PiS of plundering Poland
December 8th, 2023, 9:00 p.m
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Although the right-wing national PiS party lost the elections in Poland, it formed a pseudo-government for a few weeks. Election winner Tusk reports questionable money flows and hectic promotions. The spook could be over on Monday.
After the election victory of his pro-European coalition, Polish opposition leader Donald Tusk has announced a decisive change of course. If he takes over the government, he will take immediate measures to repair the damage caused by the right-wing nationalist PiS, said Tusk in Warsaw. He accused the PiS of “spending its last weeks in power devastating and destroying the Polish state and directing flows of money to its own people.”
There are daily reports in the Polish media about new appointments of officials, the signing of multi-year contracts and massive spending. “We are seeing attempts to ‘concrete’ certain institutions that depend on public money,” said Tusk. These are “gigantic sums”. Tusk spoke of an “attempt to leave a kind of fifth column of the PiS wherever possible.” His government, which could be sworn in next week, must therefore make decisions “literally within an hour” of taking office to stop these efforts.
“Reduce tensions with Ukraine”
This applies, among other things, to the restoration of the rule of law and the public media. Tusk also announced audits and investigations. The new government will also lift the border blockade and reduce tensions in relations with Ukraine.
The PiS lost its absolute majority in the election on October 15 and has no prospect of forming a coalition. Nevertheless, President Andrzej Duda initially gave the PiS the task of forming a government.
Acting Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will ask parliament for a vote of confidence on Monday. If he fails as expected, Tusk could be elected by parliament as the new head of government. Its opposition liberal-conservative citizens’ coalition and its two coalition partners – the center-alliance Third Way and the Left – have already signed a coalition agreement.