Recordings released by the media have revealed that Tusk remained actively involved in Polish political affairs while he was President of the European Council—a position that should guarantee strict neutrality—writes the Brussels-based outlet Euractiv, commenting on the tapes disclosed by TV Republika.
On Monday evening the public heard the full set of tapes obtained by TV Republika journalists. The central figure in the recordings is attorney Roman Giertych. In conversations with Paweł Graś, Leszek Czarnecki and Donald Tusk himself, the lawyer discusses a range of issues closely connected with back-room politics. Most of the exchanges date from 2019, before the parliamentary elections.
The timing did not escape Brussels-based media. As euractiv.com soberly notes, Tusk—who was actively engaged along party lines in 2019—was then serving as President of the European Council.
As we read, “audio of a confidential phone conversation featuring Donald Tusk during his tenure as European Council President” was released.
“Tusk remained actively engaged in domestic political matters and made disparaging, coarse remarks about some regions of Poland, despite his formal role requiring political neutrality within the EU framework,” the author observes.
And further: “TV Republika noted that Tusk was serving as President of the European Council at the time – a role that, under EU law, requires neutrality in national political affairs. However, the recordings, the outlet claims, suggest a very different reality.”