Appointment of Donald Tusk for a second mandate as President of the European Council

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Author (Corporate)
Publication Date 2016-2017
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Summary:

Reports and analyses of the appointment of Donald Tusk for a second mandate as President of the European Council, despite the opposition of Poland's own government.

Further information:

Reports suggested in October 2016 that Poland's government was unlikely to support Donald Tusk in his bid to renew the mandate as head of the European Council, following a statement from Jarosław Kaczyński, the leader of the governing Law and Justice (PiS) party. Despite some indications that the European socialists could be interested in the European Council leadership, media reports also highlighted the lack of appetite across the other Member States to remove Mr Tusk from his position.

On 4 March 2017, Poland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed a note to the Maltese presidency of the Council of the European Union in which it formally presented the bid of Jacek Saryusz-Wolski as Poland's candidate for European Council President. This was soon rejected by Manfred Weber - leader of the European People's Party (EPP) - stating that Donald Tusk was the political group's only candidate for that office. He also criticised Poland's governing party for pursuing a domestic political vendetta at the European level.

Donald Tusk was re-elected by the European Council on 9 March for a second term of two and a half years, from 1 June 2017 to 30 November 2019. He was also re-appointed as President of the Euro Summit for the same period. The decision was not unanimous, as Poland voted against Mr Tusk's bid - the only country to do so. A spokesperson to the governing PiS party later stated the decision did not bode well on the European Union, as precedent had been set where the EU selected a candidate which was not supported by his own country.

Related Links
Commentary and Analysis
Politico, 13.10.16: Tusk knocked off balance by Polish broadside https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-tusk-knocked-off-balance-by-polish-broadside-european-council-president-warsaw-jaroslaw-kaczynski/
VoteWatch Europe: Blog, 18.10.16: Will Poland 'sacrifice' Tusk’s EU Council presidency due to internal politics? http://www.votewatch.eu/blog/will-poland-sacrifice-tusks-eu-council-presidency-due-to-internal-politics/
Euro|topics, March 2017: PiS against re-election of Tusk https://www.eurotopics.net/en/175524/
Politico, 07.03.17: The man who would be Tusk https://www.politico.eu/article/jacek-saryusz-wolski-the-man-who-would-be-donald-tusk-poland/
Euro|Topics, March 2017: How will Poland react to Tusk's re-election http://www.eurotopics.net/en/175838/
Spiegel Online International, 28.03.17: Interview with Poland's Foreign Minister: 'We Want Our Concerns to Be Taken Seriously' http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/poland-foreign-minister-waszczykowski-interview-a-1140629.html
EurActiv, 19.04.17: Donald Tusk re-elected president of the European Council http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/opinion/chasing-donald-tusk/
The Polish Politics Blog, 03.04.17: How will Donald Tusk’s re-appointment as European Council President affect Polish politics? https://polishpoliticsblog.wordpress.com/2017/04/03/how-will-donald-tusks-re-appointment-as-european-council-president-affect-polish-politics/

News
Radio Poland, 04.10.16: Poland will not back second term by Tusk in European Council: PiS chief http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/273871
Politico, 04.10.16: Kaczyński casts doubt on a second term for EU’s Tusk https://www.politico.eu/article/jaroslaw-kaczynski-casts-doubt-on-a-second-term-for-eus-donald-tusk-president-european-council/
The Guardian, 05.10.16: Poland 'unlikely' to back Donald Tusk for second EU term https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/05/poland-unlikely-to-back-donald-tusk-for-second-eu-term
EurActiv, 03.01.17: Polish FM calls Tusk ‘icon of evil and stupidity’ https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/polish-fm-calls-tusk-icon-of-evil-and-stupidity/
EurActiv, 20.01.17: Hollande has no plans to replace Tusk, aides say https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/hollande-has-no-plans-to-replace-tusk-aides-say/
EurActiv, 26.01.17: EU Socialists eye Tusk’s job after losing European Parliament presidency https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/eu-socialists-eye-tusks-job-after-losing-european-parliament-presidency/
Politico, 03.02.17: Donald Tusk wants second term as Council president https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-tusk-wants-second-term-as-european-council-president/
Radio Poland: 28.02.17: Tusk can't count on support of Poland's ruling party: leader http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/295621
Sputnik International, 28.02.18: Poland Seeks To Undermine EU President Tusk’s Reelection https://sptnkne.ws/dEa6
Foreign Policy, 28.02.17: Warsaw Polish Government Takes on Brussels Polish Governance https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/02/28/warsaw-polish-government-takes-on-brussels-polish-governance/
EurActiv, 01.03.17: Poland confirms opposition to Tusk’s reappointment https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/poland-confirms-opposition-to-tusks-reappointment/
Politico, 05.03.17: EPP threatens to expel Polish MEP for challenging Tusk https://www.politico.eu/article/epp-threatens-to-expel-polish-mep-for-challenging-tusk/
EurActiv, 06.03.17: EU conservatives turn fury on Poland over Tusk challenge https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/eu-conservatives-turn-fury-on-poland-over-tusk-challenge/
Politico, 06.03.17: Whether he quit or got the boot, Tusk’s Polish challenger leaves EPP https://www.politico.eu/article/whether-he-quit-or-got-the-boot-tusks-polish-challenger-leaves-epp/
EurActiv, 07.03.17: Tusk row threatens to overshadow EU summit https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/tusk-row-threatens-to-overshadow-eu-summit/
EurActiv, 08.03.17: Tusk says he is ‘ready’ for showdown over his job at EU summit https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/tusk-defends-neutrality-says-he-is-ready-for-judgment-at-eu-summit/
Politico, 09.03.17: EU leaders defy Warsaw to reappoint Donald Tusk http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-leaders-reappoint-donald-tusk-as-council-president/
EUObserver, 09.03.17: EU re-elects Tusk, leaving Poland isolated https://euobserver.com/institutional/137180
EurActiv, 09.03.17: Tusk reappointment highlights EPP monopoly of top posts http://www.euractiv.com/section/future-eu/news/tusk-re-election-highlights-epp-monopoly-of-top-eu-posts/
BBC News, 09.03.17: Poland fails to stop Donald Tusk EU re-election http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39222442
Radio Poland, 09.03.17: Donald Tusk chosen to head European Council for second term http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/297144
EurActiv, 09.03.17: EU unity in ruins after Poland’s tussle over Tusk http://www.euractiv.com/section/future-eu/news/eu-unity-in-ruins-after-polands-tussle-over-tusk/
EurActiv, 09.03.17: Council slaps down Poland, reappoints Tusk as president http://www.euractiv.com/section/all/news/council-slaps-down-poland-reappoints-tusk-as-president/
The Guardian, 09.03.17: Poland reacts with fury to re-election of Donald Tusk https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/09/donald-tusk-re-elected-as-european-council-president-despite-polish-opposition
Politico, 10.03.17: Poland, failing to tar Tusk, paints itself into a corner http://www.politico.eu/article/poland-failing-to-tar-donald-tusk-paints-itself-into-a-corner-eu-council-president/
Politico, 10.03.17: Warsaw sours on EU after Donald Tusk debacle http://www.politico.eu/article/warsaw-sours-on-eu-after-donald-tusk-debacle-eu-council-president-beata-szydlo-jaroslaw-kaczynski/
The Economist, 10.03.17: Poland fails by 27-1 to oust Donald Tusk as president of the European Council http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21718698-new-governments-obsession-punishing-former-polish-prime-minister-leaves-it-isolated
Radio Poland, 10.03.17: Polish FM: we lost because ‘rules were changed during the game’ http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/297258,Polish-FM-we-lost-because-%E2%80%98rules-were-changed-during-the-game%E2%80%99
EurActiv, 10.03.17: Polish PM Szydło fights back after EU summit defeat http://www.euractiv.com/section/future-eu/news/polish-pm-szydlo-fights-back-after-eu-summit-defeat/

Official
Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: News, 04.03.17: Minister Witold Waszczykowski about the candidacy of Jacek Saryusz-Wolski as President of the European Council https://www.msz.gov.pl/en/news/minister_witold_waszczykowski_about_the_candidacy_of_jacek_saryusz_wolski_as_president_of_the_european_council
Prime Minister of Poland: Letter to the Heads of State or Government - members of the European Council, 8 March 2017 https://www.premier.gov.pl/en/news/news/letter-of-prime-minister-beata-szydlo-to-the-heads-of-state-or-government-members-of-the.html
European Council: Press Release, 09.03.17: Donald Tusk re-elected president of the European Council http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/03/09-european-council-president-election/
European Council: Statements by Prime Minister Muscat and President Tusk on the re-election of the President of the European Council, 9 March 2017 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/03/09-tusk-muscat-speeches/

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