The swearing-in ceremony of Poland’s new president, Karol Nawrocki, is just two days away. Nevertheless, Michał Szczerba, a Member of the European Parliament from Civic Platform (PO), made a rather striking remark today regarding Nawrocki’s potential cooperation with Donald Tusk’s government.
On Wednesday, August 6, the official inauguration of President Karol Nawrocki will take place. Everyone remembers how long and bumpy the road has been since the official results of the presidential election were announced on June 2.
Politicians from the December 13 Coalition, along with their loyal allies, did everything they could to prevent the convening of the National Assembly for the swearing-in of the democratically elected president.
Yet all these efforts proved futile. But now, another question arises: what will the cooperation between Poland’s new president and the still-functioning government led by Donald Tusk look like?
Szczerba Echoing Giertych?
Michał Szczerba took it upon himself to offer a “response” during an interview on Radio Three (Trójka). He began by stating that he would not be attending Karol Nawrocki’s inauguration ceremony.
“I have not been invited to Karol Nawrocki’s inauguration. I will not be present. The government and the KO parliamentary club will be represented. We have concerns about irregularities in the electoral commissions,” he declared, sounding somewhat like Roman Giertych, his fellow party member.
But that wasn’t all.
He went on to launch a sort of attack against the president-elect.
“If Nawrocki becomes Kaczyński’s hostage, I don’t see any cooperation with the government. On the other hand, he is a pragmatist and will want funding for staffing in the Presidential Office. His nominations are controversial,” he thundered.
He also brought up the 60,000 złoty tax-free allowance, which – as a reminder – was one of Donald Tusk’s concrete promises for his first 100 days in office. What became of that promise is well known: “a metaphor.”
Nevertheless, Szczerba said the following: “Before President Nawrocki starts pushing for the tax-free threshold, he should speak with the finance minister and look into the budget. It may soon turn out that his Office will have no funds.”
Everyone remembers how the December 13 Coalition blocked funds for Law and Justice (PiS) in the form of subsidies. So now the question arises: are similar financial blockades being discussed behind closed doors when it comes to the future Presidential Office?
Pawlak: The President Is Hiring Warriors
Another politician from the coalition, Waldemar Pawlak, also had a critical view of the new president’s inner circle.
“The signs are not optimistic, because the president is hiring warriors ready for close-combat skirmishes. Zbigniew Bogucki, Sławomir Cenckiewicz, Paweł Szefernaker, Adam Andruszkiewicz – these are people who have so far not shown a constructive approach, only a combative and aggressive one. And that’s the attitude they will bring toward Donald Tusk’s government,” said Pawlak.