“Poland is a sovereign state and you forget about it,” Szydło said in the lower house of parliament on Friday, addressing the opposition.
Countdown
The European Commission this week gave Poland an ultimatum to resolve the conflict over the Constitutional Tribunal.
The executive body of the European Union, led by Jean-Claude Juncker, has given Poland until Monday to find a solution to the ongoing disagreements over the Constitutional Tribunal.
“If there is no significant progress by 23 May, then the First Vice-President [Frans Timmermans] has been empowered by the College of Commissioners to adopt the draft Rule of Law Opinion which the College discussed today,” the Commission wrote in a statement on Wednesday.
“After the Opinion is adopted and communicated to the Polish authorities, they have two weeks to submit their observations. On the basis of these observations, the Commission would pursue the constructive dialogue with the Polish government with a view to finding solutions to the concerns set out in the opinion. If the concerns have not been satisfactorily resolved within a reasonable time, the Commission may issue a recommendation.”
Strong words
“I appeal today to you on a matter which – to both those who carry the responsibility of power in Poland, as well as those in opposition – should be obvious. Unfortunately, recent statements and actions of the opposition, speeches, and steps which you have taken, testify to the fact that you need to be reminded of the basic obligation that rests on the Polish members of parliament, the duty to protect Polish sovereignty,” Beata Szydło said.
Emotional speech
PM Szydło’s address on Friday was commented by Ryszard Petru, leader of the opposition Nowoczesna party.
Nowoczesna leader Ryszard Petru. Photo: PAP/Jacek Turczyk
“I have a feeling that you are doing all this in order for [PiS leader] Jarosław Kaczynski not to say ‘I capitulate’. Is it worth it?,” Petru asked.
“It’s been a long time since I have seen such an emotional speech by the Prime Minister, and I see that you are very nervous and did not know how to act. And if you do not know how to act, at least act with decency. I also call not to hide behind calls for ‘sovereignty’, and ‘national spirit’, because the truth is that you created this mess, and you do not know how to solve it,” Petru said. (rg)