Latest news with #Poland2050
Euractiv
2 days ago
- Business
- Euractiv
Tusk unveils major cabinet reshuffle amid coalition crisis
WARSAW – Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced a long-awaited cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday, removing key ministers and consolidating key portfolios in a move aimed at stabilising his embattled coalition government. The reshuffle follows the presidential election defeat of Civic Platform candidate and Tusk ally Rafał Trzaskowski, as well as slumping poll numbers that have emboldened junior coalition partners. The centre-right Poland 2050 party pushed for the creation of a deputy prime minister post, while the Polish People's Party (PSL) even suggested replacing Tusk with its leader and defence minister, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. These demands were ultimately dismissed. Although Tusk insisted that the overhaul would not alter the coalition's 'major goals' since taking power in 2023, the changes mark a clear shift in direction. Justice Minister Adam Bodnar, the architect of Poland's EU-approved rule-of-law plan, is set to leave the government. Although he was praised for unlocking EU cohesion and recovery funds that had been frozen under the PiS-led administration, Bodnar has faced mounting criticism over the slow pace of judicial reform. He will be replaced by Waldemar Żurek, a vocal critic of the judicial changes introduced during the PiS era, who is expected to continue the reform agenda. Tusk also announced that the number of ministries would be reduced from 26 to 21, stating that the goal was to build 'not the biggest government, but the best one.' Two new 'super ministries' were also announced: an energy ministry, which will be led by Miłosz Motyka (PSL); and an economy ministry, which has been added to the portfolio of Finance Minister Andrzej Domański. Despite the shakeup, public confidence remains low. A poll by SW Research for Onet found that 40% of Poles believe the reshuffle will do little to improve the government's image. (cs, de)
Euractiv
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Euractiv
Kaczyński meets centrist speaker over migration concerns
WARSAW – The influential leader of Polish opposition party, PiS (ECR), Jarosław Kaczyński, says he met parliamentary speaker Szymon Hołownia from Poland 2050 (Renew) last week to discuss how to 'save' Poland from illegal migrants. Hołownia and Kaczyński met on Thursday night at the Warsaw apartment of PiS MEP Adam Bielan, according to Polish media reports. 'We spoke with full discretion,' Kaczyński said on Sunday. Referring to the topics of discussion, he clarified that 'it certainly wasn't the matters that some are guessing' – suggesting that a potential coalition between PiS and Hołownia's Poland 2050 party was not discussed. He said the conversation primarily concerned the situation at the Polish-German border and the issue of illegal migration. 'The fact that Poland needs to be saved – that word is completely justified. That's what we talked about,' he emphasised. Despite the heads of both governments belonging to the European People's Party, recent relations between Warsaw and Berlin have been strained by Poland's accusation that Germany is smuggling illegal immigrants into its territory. Last week, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (PO, EPP) announced the reintroduction of border controls with Germany and Lithuania. Meanwhile, Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz (PSL, EPP) has rejected Berlin's proposal for joint Polish-German border patrols. PiS and the far right accuse Tusk of being too submissive towards Germany and not doing enough to protect the border. Right-wing activist Robert Bąkiewicz has launched "citizens'" patrols at the border – an initiative that has drawn criticism from both the Polish and German governments.
