Donald Tusk becomes Prime Minister, bringing major changes to Poland

WARSAW, Dec 13 (Reuters) – Poland’s new Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government was sworn in by the president on Wednesday, the final step in a transfer of power that marks a major change after eight years of nationalist rule.

The appointment of former European Council President Tusk has raised hopes that relations with the rest of the European Union will become smoother after years of disputes between Warsaw and Brussels under the previous government led by the Law and Justice (PiS) party. ing.

In a speech to parliament on Tuesday, Tusk vowed to set aside billions of euros for Poland that had been frozen by the EU over rule of law concerns.

But judges appointed under PiS reforms, which critics say undermine the independence of the courts, and a veto of the law by President Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally, have cut his mandate. can be complicated.

“We have to be optimistic,” Tusk told reporters as he departed for a swearing-in ceremony at the presidential palace. “I hope that even though we have different paths and experiences, we can have a common goal. No one doubts that we need to serve Poland.”

Poland’s Constitutional Court ruled on Monday that a judicial reform bill that Poland needs to pass to access EU funds is unconstitutional.

A similar conclusion was reached regarding penalties, known as interim measures, which the EU Supreme Court imposes before reaching a final judgment.

Mr Tusk is scheduled to travel to Brussels to attend an EU summit on Thursday and Friday.

In addition to trying to block funding to Poland, Mr. Tusk plans to help Ukraine eventually join the bloc.

With concerns growing in Kiev about promises by Western allies to finance defense against Russian aggression, President Tusk said on Tuesday that Poland would insist on continued support.

Ukraine faces the possibility that Hungary will not give the green light to start EU accession negotiations at a summit in Brussels.

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