“The president knows full well that neither today, nor tomorrow, nor the day after tomorrow will there be a constitutional majority in favor of his ideas, so in reality this is more about a political game. In my opinion, this will only create further confusion, and what Poland needs today above all is stability,” Donald Tusk lashed out at Karol Nawrocki, who has just appointed a council for a new constitution.
At the Royal Castle, on the occasion of the Constitution Day (Poland), President Karol Nawrocki appointed the Council for a New Constitution. Its members include Prof. Ryszard Legutko, Prof. Ryszard Piotrowski, Marek Jurek, Anna Łabno, Józef Zych, Barbara Piwnik, and Julia Przyłębska.
The body is also expected to eventually include representatives of parliamentary caucuses and groups (two from each caucus and one from each group).
As soon as Karol Nawrocki’s proposal to begin work on a new constitution appeared in the media space, the ruling camp – led by Donald Tusk – attacked the Polish head of state.
“Mr. Karol Nawrocki has announced that he will work on a new constitution. I suggest starting with complying with the current one,” he wrote on the X platform on May 1.
It did not end with that post. The topic returned on Sunday morning during journalists’ talks with Tusk. The head of the December 13 coalition stated that “the most important thing is to respect the constitution and strengthen the rule of law.”
He continued: “There is no perfect constitution, there are no perfect political systems. Whenever nations, leaders, and state institutions respect their own laws, as well as their political customs and traditions, and when the rule of law is not just an empty slogan, things somehow move forward.”
Tusk assessed that “the best remedy for political confusion is the rule of law and sound democratic rules.” He added that the idea of changing the constitution lacks political support. And – he attacked President Nawrocki.
“The president knows full well that neither today, nor tomorrow, nor the day after tomorrow will there be a constitutional majority in favor of his ideas, so in reality this is more about a political game. In my opinion, this will only create further confusion, and what Poland needs today above all is stability,” he stated.
He did not stop there and, just moments later, referred to the “history of the May 3 Constitution and the Targowica Confederation – a conspiracy of magnates opposing reforms and dependent on Empress Catherine II.”
“We had one of the first and one of the best constitutions in the world. Why did everything collapse? Because forces emerged that had no intention of respecting and abiding by that constitution, and instead proposed rebellion – in the name of ‘defending tradition.’ The slogans of Targowica were just as beautiful as those of today’s Polish right, but in the end there was betrayal,” he said, targeting the Polish opposition.
And he added: “Today, I would appeal to the president and the opposition to respect this constitution. Before they start tinkering with a new constitution, they should learn to comply with the current one. This is absolutely the key to putting Poland’s affairs in order.”