Brussels’ horrified response to conservative Karol Nawrocki’s victory in Poland’s presidential election suggested that he could be a threat to democracy. But it turns out this threat actually comes from liberal EU-friendly prime minister Donald Tusk, who appears to be preparing to govern in conflict with the rule of law.
Tusk said in an address on Monday evening that a “contingency plan” had been prepared in the event of a Nawrocki presidency, under which “we will start working regardless of the circumstances” and find ways to ignore vetoes.
We will submit ready-made bills, but if necessary, we will govern and make decisions even with a president who blocks good changes.
Like many Brussels-types, Tusk sees his potential breaking of constitutional norms—or, as he calls it, “militant democracy”—as justified because his own views are “good.”
But Jerzy Kwaśniewski, a lawyer and president of the conservative Ordo Iuris legal organisation, stressed that Poles “did not give you permission to establish laws, because they elected a president who can veto your laws.”
That is what democracy is all about. And there is no room for “contingency plans” here, because that would mean a coup d’état.
Publicist Rafał Ziemkiewicz added that the prime minister is trying to “scare” off the sovereigntist movement because his back is against the wall, while attorney Bartosz Lewandowski suggested such tactics could hand the Right “a real chance for a constitutional majority in 2027,” when the next parliamentary elections are expected.
Tusk’s attempts to save face following the weekend’s elections begin with a largely symbolic confidence vote, which is due to take place on June 11th.
Michael Curzon is a news writer for europeanconservative.com based in England’s Midlands. He is also Editor of Bournbrook Magazine, which he founded in 2019, and previously wrote for London’s Express Online. His Twitter handle is @MichaelCurzon_.
