After two years in power, Donald Tusk’s government is still unable to effectively hold its predecessors accountable, according to an analysis by the German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung, which appears clearly concerned by this situation. In the paper’s view, promises to restore the rule of law and punish those responsible for abuses have largely remained unfulfilled.
The newspaper notes that the current administration has been grappling for over two years with the consequences of eight years of PiS rule, particularly in the area of the judiciary. Reforms carried out during that period, according to the report, raised serious concerns in terms of EU law and rule-of-law standards.
Berlin is concerned: accountability without results
One of Tusk’s key campaign pledges was to bring to justice politicians suspected of financial misconduct. However, as the German paper observes, no breakthrough decisions have been reached so far.
A particular issue remains the case of former justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro, regarded as the main architect of changes to the judiciary. According to Sueddeutsche Zeitung, he bears responsibility for weakening the independence of legal institutions and politicizing them. Despite the seriousness of the allegations, the politician remains beyond the reach of law enforcement authorities.
The Hungarian dimension also appears in the background, with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, according to the report, having granted refuge to some representatives of the former ruling camp, including Marcin Romanowski.
Pardons and political blockades
The German daily also recalls President Andrzej Duda’s decision to pardon former Interior Minister Mariusz Kamiński and his associate Maciej Wąsik. Both had previously been convicted of abuse of power, which, according to commentators, further complicates the process of accountability. As can be seen, this has not been well received in Berlin.
Legal reform or another impasse?
According to the media, the greatest challenge for the current government remains “the attempt to restore rule-of-law standards without violating existing legal provisions.” As Sueddeutsche Zeitung notes, this is a task balancing on the boundary between politics and law.
Additional difficulties stem from tensions between the government and the president. Karol Nawrocki, according to the paper, refers disputed matters to the Constitutional Tribunal, which remains staffed by judges appointed under the previous majority.
The dispute also concerns new judicial appointments. Although parliament selected candidates in accordance with procedures, the president has not, as noted, decided their swearing-in. The German perspective on this issue, however, differs significantly.