During a passionate debate in the European Parliament, Patryk Jaki, MEP from Poland’s Law and Justice Party (PiS), didn’t mince words as he took aim at former Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Representing the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), Jaki delivered a stinging critique, accusing Tusk of disregarding Poland’s laws to serve his own agenda.
“Donald Tusk talking about the rule of law? That’s rich,” Jaki said. “This is someone who, quite literally, trampled on the law and used it like a doormat.”
A Record of Disregard
Jaki pulled no punches as he outlined what he called Tusk’s “legacy of lawlessness.” He claimed that Tusk forcefully took over the public prosecutor’s office and public media in Poland, violating both legal norms and constitutional requirements.
“His time in power was like a daily crime report,” Jaki said. “Court rulings? He ignored them. Legal processes? He bulldozed through them. And yet, he has the audacity to pose as some sort of guardian of justice. Where did he learn this? Right here, in Brussels.”
The MEP also accused Tusk of hypocrisy when it comes to unity. “He talks about bringing people together, but in Poland, his idea of ‘unity’ was calling for a political Nuremberg trial for his opponents. Those were his exact words—comparing his rivals to Nazis. Is this the ‘unity’ Europe applauds?”
Breaking the Rules, Ignoring the Courts
Jaki backed up his claims with examples, pointing to Tusk’s alleged abuse of power. “In Poland, replacing the Chief Prosecutor requires approval from the President. Tusk didn’t bother with that. He just muscled his way through, ignoring the Constitution entirely. The Supreme Court and the Constitutional Tribunal even ordered him to reverse his decisions and reinstate the rightful Prosecutor General. But Tusk? He shrugged and carried on as if the law didn’t apply to him.”
Jaki also accused Tusk of using similar tactics to take control of Poland’s public media. “He wanted control, so he took it—just like that,” Jaki said.
Divided Reactions in the EU
Jaki’s fiery remarks didn’t go unnoticed in the chamber. Supporters of Tusk sat in silence, while applause broke out from other corners of the room. The divide was stark—mirroring the deepening polarization between pro-EU liberals and conservative voices like Jaki’s.
His critique wasn’t just about Tusk, though. Jaki used the moment to call out what he sees as a broader problem in the European Union: double standards. “They preach about democracy and the rule of law but turn a blind eye when it’s one of their own bending the rules,” he argued.
A Wake-Up Call?
Whether you agree with Jaki or not, his speech was a powerful reminder of the growing tension between Poland and the EU. For Jaki, this is about more than Tusk—it’s about standing up to what he sees as hypocrisy from European elites.
As debates about the rule of law continue to rage across Europe, voices like Jaki’s aren’t going away anytime soon. For now, his message to Tusk and the EU was loud and clear: the era of turning a blind eye is over.