Kaczyński against Tusk re-election as European Council president

In an interview for TVP 3 Białystok, Kaczyński was asked about an article in the Financial Times which reported that Tusk's chances for a second term as President of the European Council might be compromised by Poland's reluctance to support him.

"What would typically be a routine two-and-a-half-year extension decision has proved unusually contentious because of Mr Tusk’s poisonous relationship with Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of Poland’s Law and Justice party," wrote the newspaper.

According to Financial Times, two senior EU diplomats said that in recent private conversations, including with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Kaczyński refused to back Tusk’s re-election, suggesting instead that Poland may issue a "European arrest warrant" against him.

Kaczyński confirmed that Poland will not be supporting Tusk.

"A politician who harms us with for example the 250,000 euro [penalty idea] for each refugee that would not be taken in (…), and with many other actions – it would be strange for us to accept such a person," said Kaczyński.

He also stated that Tusk is not the right person to be heading the European Council if it is to function well while the EU is in crisis.

"It is in Poland’s interest for the EU to overcome the crisis, but it is not in Poland’s interest for someone like that to be the [European Council] president," said Kaczyński. (mol/pk)

Source: PAP, Financial Times