Donald Tusk says Poland is following ‘Kremlin plan’ amid strained ties with the EU

Donald Tusk

The Polish prime minister has accused the European Council president of using his position to attack Poland after he suggested her government was following a “Kremlin plan”.

Beata Szydlo took to Twitter to challenge Donald Tusk, who is also a former Polish prime minster, saying he “had done nothing for Poland” while at the European Council. 

“Today, by using his position to attack the Polish government, he is attacking Poland,” she added.

Her accusations came in response to a tweet by Mr Tusk in which he broached possible motives for a string of apparent problems caused by Law and Justice (PiS), Poland’s governing party.

“Alert! Serious dispute with Ukraine, isolation in the EU, departure from the rule of law and independence of the courts, attack on the NGO sector and free media - PiS strategy or Kremlin plan? Too similar to sleep peacefully,” he tweeted.

The spat will further strain Poland’s relations with the EU, which have deteriorated markedly since Law and Justice came into power two years ago with strong euro-sceptic and nationalist inclinations. 

The two sides have fallen out over a plethora of issues including the rule of law in Poland, the environment and media freedom. The once healthy relationship between Warsaw and Brussels is now characterised by deep mistrust and cynicism.

While Mr Tusk’s apparent suggestion the Polish government was working on behalf of the Russians could have international implications for Poland, many Poles regard it as evidence that he might be planning to return to Polish politics.

There have long been rumours that Mr Tusk might come back to Poland, perhaps running for president in 2020, in an effort to rein in Law and Justice, which enjoys considerable popular support, and breathe new life into the flagging fortunes Civic Platform, his old party.

“Mr Tusk has been unable to carve out an active role in European politics for himself, so he is trying to plunge back into Polish politics, to meddle and intervene in Polish politics,” Witold Waszczykowski, the Polish foreign minister, told PAP, a Polish news agency, on Sunday.

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