Poland’s Tusk says EU vote vital to keep war out of EU
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Thousands of supporters of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk gathered in the capital Warsaw on Tuesday ahead of European elections that the head of government says are crucial for Poland’s security as it faces rising tensions on its eastern border.
WARSAW: Thousands of supporters of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk gathered in the capital Warsaw on Tuesday ahead of European elections that the head of government said are crucial for Poland’s security as the country faces rising tensions on its eastern border.
With war raging in Ukraine and a migrant crisis on the Belarus border, Tusk sees Poland’s June 9 vote as a choice between a secure future in the country at the heart of the European Union (EU) or a more dangerous future if the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, known for its disputes with Brussels, wins.
“We are all focusing every day on strengthening Poland, strengthening Europe, uniting the Polish people and uniting Europe, because this is the only way to avoid the drama of war on our lands,” Tusk told a crowd in Warsaw’s Castle Square.
The rally was held on the 35th anniversary of Poland’s first post-war democratic elections.
Tusk’s Civic Coalition (KO) group is the largest in the pro-Europe coalition that took power in December. However, PiS remains the party with the most seats in Poland’s parliament after the 2023 general election, continuing a nearly decade-long streak of being in first place.
Analysts say if KO wins the most EU seats for Poland it would boost Tusk’s hopes and the coalition would become a major force in Polish politics.
PiS says Tusk, a former European Council president, is beholden to Poland’s bigger neighbour Germany and has accused him of hypocrisy after he criticised PiS’s tough policies towards migrants on the Belarus border while in opposition and then implemented similar measures in government.
“Propaganda rallies, revenge, blunt manipulation are the only fuel. This is Tusk’s June 4,” PiS lawmaker Jack Sasin said in a post on the social media platform X about the Warsaw rally.
EU citizens will vote on June 6-9 to select the 720 members of the next European Parliament, who will serve for five years.
Polls suggest that the main pro-EU groups around the political centre would win a smaller majority than they currently have.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Reuters)