Posting online has become Donald Tusk’s everyday routine. Usually – his posts target the opposition, the president or, at times, key allies, such as the United States. Today, the “randomizer” selected President Karol Nawrocki, the Law and Justice party (PiS) and the Confederation. And the dispute was over the so-called chain bill. The Polish head of state responded on the merits, but with extraordinary sharpness!
Last Tuesday, President Karol Nawrocki announced that he had vetoed an amendment to the animal protection act which would prohibit keeping dogs on a tether and introduce requirements for the pens in which they are kept.
The president justified his decision by stating that the provisions “stigmatized the countryside”. He also assessed the bill as poorly drafted and announced that he would submit his own legislative proposal.
The president’s spokesperson – Rafał Leśkiewicz – informed literally moments later that “the presidential amendment to the animal protection act has been submitted to the Sejm; instead of multiplying errors, it fixes bad law. The bill ends the practice of keeping domestic animals on a tether, not only dogs, and restores real protection instead of superficial regulations. Now it is up to the Sejm to decide.”
Thus – the president vetoed the so-called chain bill, but immediately sent to the Sejm his own draft act concerning the welfare of domestic animals.
In response to Karol Nawrocki’s veto, the 13 December coalition heated up to the boiling point and… is now using the president’s constitutional powers as a pretext to attack him. What is more, on 17 December, a vote in the Sejm will be held on the president’s veto to the so-called chain bill, as announced by the Marshal of the chamber – Włodzimierz Czarzasty.
Tusk Attacked the President. And Regretted It
The culmination of the hateful wave directed at the president of the Republic of Poland was probably today’s post by Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
“They love dogs and Poland. On a chain. PiS, Nawrocki, Confederation,” he wrote.
Under this post, President Nawrocki published his reply – somewhat longer than Tusk’s two sentences. And although the president’s post is still “fresh”, the numbers under it already outperform what the leader of the 13 December coalition wrote.
“Mr Prime Minister, we will free the dogs from their chains – my draft bill is waiting in the Sejm. Let’s get to work! I would also like the symbolic “chain” to finally be removed from you, Mr Prime Minister – I support this as much as I can, but without your goodwill it may not be possible. And concerning my love for Poland, please refrain from commenting – it is unbecoming of you, Mr Prime Minister. Have a nice day,” reads the president’s post.