Poland threatens to derail EU summit over Tusk

BRUSSELS: Poland threatened on Thursday to derail an EU summit on the bloc's post-Brexit future if leaders re-elect Donald Tusk as president despite Warsaw's opposition, reports AFP.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel quickly hit back at efforts to block Polish ex-premier Tusk, saying he had wide support and that giving him a second term would be a "sign of stability".
The right-wing Polish government's efforts to oust Tusk, its long term domestic political foe, threaten to open up a major east-west split in the European Union just as it tries to focus on unity ahead of its 60th birthday.
"We will inform our (EU) partners that the entire summit is at risk if they force the vote (on Tusk) today," Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski told local television.
"We'll do everything we can to ensure that the vote won't take place today," Waszczykowski said.
Polish officials said Prime Minister Beata Szydlo could veto the conclusions of the summit, thus torpedoing Tusk's re-election for now, or could insist on a unanimous vote, he said.
But European diplomats insist that Poland has no veto and that Tusk can be re-elected by a qualified majority, adding that they do not want to be strong-armed by a Polish domestic wrangle.
The row is overshadowing talks on the economy, defence, and unrest in the Balkans on Thursday, and then on Friday, without British Prime Minister Theresa May, on preparations for a summit in Rome on March 25th to mark the 60th anniversary of the EU's founding treaty.
Merkel, Europe's most powerful leader, called for the re-election of Tusk, who has steered Europe through tensions with Russia, the Greek debt crisis and Britain's vote to leave the bloc.
"I see his reelection as a sign of stability for all of Europe, and I am happy to continue working with him," Merkel told the German parliament before heading to the summit in Brussels.
Leaders had hoped to rubberstamp Tusk's new term, which would run from May until November 2019, but Poland put forward a surprise rival candidate, euro-MP Jacek Saryusz-Wolski.
Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who will oversee the election of Tusk as his country holds the EU's rotating presidency, said the "rules are clear" and that the vote would go ahead.
"The item is on the agenda, so usually when an item is on the agenda one has to decide on this item," he added.
Britain's May, however, is set to abstain on the vote amid reports that she wants to keep traditional ally Poland onside during Brexit negotiations, said Manfred Weber, head of the European People's Party, the biggest group in the European Parliament.
Tusk has been a long-term foe of the head of the governing Law and Justice party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who has accused the centrist former premier among other things of "moral responsibility" for his twin brother's death in a plane crash in Russia in 2010. 

Poland threatens to derail EU summit over Tusk

BRUSSELS: Poland threatened on Thursday to derail an EU summit on the blocs post-Brexit future if leaders re-elect Donald Tusk as president despite Warsaws opposition, reports AFP. German Chancellor Angela Merkel quickly hit back at efforts to block Polish ex-premier Tusk, saying he had wide support and that giving him a second term would be a sign of stability. The right-wing Polish governments efforts to oust Tusk, its long term domestic political foe, threaten to open up a major east-west split in the European Union just as it tries to focus on unity ahead of its 60th birthday. We will inform our (EU) partners that the entire summit is at risk if they force the vote (on Tusk) today, Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski told local television. Well do everything we can to ensure that the vote wont take place today, Waszczykowski said. Polish officials said Prime Minister Beata Szydlo could veto the conclusions of the summit, thus torpedoing Tusks re-election for now, or could insist on a unanimous vote, he said. But European diplomats insist that Poland has no veto and that Tusk can be re-elected by a qualified majority, adding that they do not want to be strong-armed by a Polish domestic wrangle. The row is overshadowing talks on the economy, defence, and unrest in the Balkans on Thursday, and then on Friday, without British Prime Minister Theresa May, on preparations for a summit in Rome on March 25th to mark the 60th anniversary of the EUs founding treaty. Merkel, Europes most powerful leader, called for the re-election of Tusk, who has steered Europe through tensions with Russia, the Greek debt crisis and Britains vote to leave the bloc. I see his reelection as a sign of stability for all of Europe, and I am happy to continue working with him, Merkel told the German parliament before heading to the summit in Brussels. Leaders had hoped to rubberstamp Tusks new term, which would run from May until November 2019, but Poland put forward a surprise rival candidate, euro-MP Jacek Saryusz-Wolski. Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who will oversee the election of Tusk as his country holds the EUs rotating presidency, said the rules are clear and that the vote would go ahead. The item is on the agenda, so usually when an item is on the agenda one has to decide on this item, he added. Britains May, however, is set to abstain on the vote amid reports that she wants to keep traditional ally Poland onside during Brexit negotiations, said Manfred Weber, head of the European Peoples Party, the biggest group in the European Parliament. Tusk has been a long-term foe of the head of the governing Law and Justice party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who has accused the centrist former premier among other things of moral responsibility for his twin brothers death in a plane crash in Russia in 2010.