Donald Tusk: Poland's Political Leader

• Donald Franciszek Tusk, born on April 22, 1957, is a Polish politician and historian.
• He has been the Prime Minister of Poland since December 13, 2023.

Previous Positions

• He previously served as Prime Minister from 2007 to 2014.
• President of the European Council from 2014 to 2019.
• Leader of the European People's Party from 2019 to 2022.

Civic Platform

• He co-founded Civic Platform (PO), and has been its leader from 2003 to 2014, and again since 2021.
• Tusk is the longest-serving prime minister of the Third Polish Republic.

Early Political Involvement

• Tusk has been involved in Polish politics since 1989.
• He co-founded the Liberal Democratic Congress party (KLD).
• He entered the Sejm in 1991, but lost his seat in 1993.
• In 1994, KLD merged with the Democratic Union to form the Freedom Union.
• Elected to the Senate in 1997, becoming its deputy marshal.
• He co-founded Civic Platform in 2001, and was elected to the Sejm, becoming its deputy marshal.

2005 Presidential Election

• Tusk unsuccessfully ran for President of Poland in 2005.

First Premiership (2007–2014)

• Civic Platform won the 2007 parliamentary election, and Tusk became Prime Minister on November 16.
• He secured a second victory in the 2011 election, becoming the first Polish prime minister re-elected since the end of communism.
• Tusk resigned in 2014 to become President of the European Council.

Political Rivalry

• Civic Platform lost control of the presidency and parliament to the Law and Justice (PiS) party in 2015.

Return to Polish Politics

• After serving as President of the European Council until 2019, he returned to Polish politics in 2021, becoming leader of Civic Platform again.
• In the 2023 election, Civic Coalition won 157 seats in the Sejm.
• Tusk was elected Prime Minister for a third time after Mateusz Morawiecki failed to secure a vote of confidence on December 11.
• His cabinet was sworn in on December 13, ending eight years of PiS government.

First Term as PM

• Tusk oversaw the reduction and digitization of the public sector.
• He invested in infrastructure for Euro 2012, expanding the highway network.

Second Term as PM

• Scandals, unfulfilled promises, and a cooling economy led to a drop in public support.
• He opposed what he considered democratic backsliding by PiS.

Return to Power

• After returning to power in 2023, he focused on improving the rule of law and relations with the EU.
• As PM, Tusk has continued aid to Ukraine.

Political Views

• He has appropriated right-wing themes, such as opposition to illegal migration.
• He has prioritized border security, and suspended the right of asylum for those who cross the Belarus–Poland border illegally.

Early Life and Background

• Tusk was born and raised in Gdańsk, Poland.
• He has Polish, German, and Kashubian origins.
• His father was a carpenter, and his mother was a nurse.
• His maternal grandmother's native language was Danzig German.

Family History

• His paternal grandfather was imprisoned in the Neuengamme concentration camp.
• He defected from the Wehrmacht and joined the Polish Armed Forces in the West.

Formative Influences

• His Kashubian ancestry and multilingual background shaped his perspective, leading him to be immune to orthodoxy, ideology, and nationalism.
• He witnessed clashes between striking workers and riot police as a teenager.

Education and Early Career

• He studied history at the University of Gdańsk, graduating in 1980.
• He was active in the Student Committee of Solidarity.
• Tusk was one of the founders of the Liberal Democratic Congress (KLD).

Political Career

• He was elected to the Senate in 1997
• Served as deputy speaker in parliament after the party won seats in the 2001 election.

2005 Presidential Election Factors

• Key differences between Tusk and Kaczyński included views on church and state, European integration, and economic policy.
• Tusk wanted to enforce a separation of church and state, favored rapid European integration and supported a free-market economy
• Kaczyński was very socially conservative, a soft Eurosceptic, and supported state intervention
• Campaign motto was "President Tusk – A man with principles; We will be proud of Poland."
• Tusk received 36.6% of votes in the first round and Kaczyński got 33.1%

2005 Presidential Election Controversy

• During the election, Tusk's grandfather was accused of being a Nazi collaborator.

First Premiership Domestic Policy (2007–2014)

• Tax increases: VAT raised from 22% to 23% in 2011.
• Increased taxes on diesel oil, alcohol, tobacco, and coal.
• Elimination of many tax exemptions.
• Increased employment in public administration.
• The value of foreign investments in Poland did not match pre-office levels.
• Implementation of an austerity programme.
• Construction of a larger national road network for the UEFA 2012 football championships.
• Restrictions on gambling, banning it partially.
• During the 2009 swine flu pandemic, the government did not purchase swine flu vaccine due to lack of testing.
• Against legalizing abortion on demand, believing that legislation protected human life best.
• Publicly opposed to euthanasia.
• Stance on abortion changed in June 2022, supporting legalization up to 12 weeks.

First Premiership Foreign Policy (2007–2014)

• Sought to improve relations with Germany and Russia damaged during the previous government.
• Stressed the need for warm relations with Berlin.
• Advocated a more realistic relationship with Moscow, especially in regard to energy policy.
• Lifted Russian bans on Polish meat and agricultural products.

First Premiership Military Policy (2007–2014)

• Withdrew military units from Iraq.
• Expressed skepticism toward U.S. plans of hosting missile defense shield bases in the country, initially rejecting offers.
• Supported the missile shield, declaring: "We have achieved the main goal. It means our countries, Poland and the United States will be more secure."
• Described Obama's decision to revise missile defense strategy as "a chance to strengthen Polish-US co-operation in defense..."

First Premiership International Policy (2007–2014)

• Announced that Polish soldiers would not take military action in Libya, though pledged to offer logistical support.
• Supported Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and stated that Hungarian constitution's democratic controversies were "exaggerated".
• In early 2012, government supported committing Poland to signing the international Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA).

First Premiership European Policy (2007–2014)

• Strongly supported greater political and economic integration within the European Union.
• Supported the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty.
• Repeatedly stated government's intention in bringing Poland into the Eurozone.
• Envisaged in 2009 a starting year of 2015 as "a realistic and not overly-ambitious goal."
• Pressed that Poland, along with the other non-eurozone states of the EU, should be included in future euro financial negotiations.
• Supported and welcomed Croatia's entry into the European Union through the Treaty of Accession 2011.

First Premiership Constitutional reform (2007–2014)

• Relations with President Lech Kaczyński were were often acrimonious due to different political ideologies.
• Kaczyński blocked legislation drafted by the Tusk government, including pension reform, agricultural and urban zoning plans, and restructuring state television.
• Proposed changes to the power of the presidency, by abolishing the presidential veto.
• Proposed that the presidential veto be overridden by a simple parliamentary majority rather than through a three-fifths vote.
• Proposed reducing the Sejm from a membership of 460 to 300.
• Proposed changes to the Senate, preferring to abolish the upper house altogether, yet due to constitutional concerns Tusk proposed reducing the Senate from 100 to 49.
• Proposed parliamentary immunity for all members of the Sejm and Senate would also be stripped, except for in special situations.
• Proposed that the prime minister's role in foreign policy decisions be expanded.

President of the European Council (2014–2019)

• Succeeded Herman Van Rompuy as President of the European Council on December 1, 2014.
• Worked to promote a unified European response to Russia's military intervention in Ukraine.
• Made attempts to co-ordinate the EU's response to the European migrant crisis, and warned illegal economic migrants not to come to Europe.
• Ahead of the UK's EU membership referendum Tusk warned of dire consequences should the UK vote to leave.
• Pursued a hard line on the UK's withdrawal from the European Union stating that the country's only real alternative to a "hard Brexit" is "no Brexit."
• Caused controversy after his official Instagram account posted an image of himself handing a slice of cake to British Prime Minister Theresa May, with the caption "A piece of cake, perhaps? Sorry, no cherries."
• In 2018, Tusk opposed the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.
• On 31 January 2017, Tusk wrote an open letter to 27 EU heads of state or government on the future of the EU before the Malta summit, stated the Trump administration presented a threat to the EU.
• On 9 March 2017, Tusk was re-elected for a second term to run until 30 November 2019.
• Szydło refused to sign the EU statement issued at the end of the council's meeting in protest at Tusk's reelection.
• EU leaders spoke in favor of him and Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands called him "a very good president".
• Donald Tusk maintains there will be no winners from Brexit and the two years following the triggering of Article 50 will be a time of damage limitation.
• In February 2018, Tusk urged Turkey "to avoid threats or actions against any EU member and instead commit to good neighbourly relations, peaceful dispute settlement and respect for territorial sovereignty."
• Tusk also expressed concern over the Turkish invasion of northern Syria in 2018.
• In response to the death of Chinese Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo
• Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker said in a joint statement that they had learned of Liu's death "with deep sadness."
• On 6 February 2019, Tusk held talks with Irish Premier Leo Varadkar in Brussels to discuss Britain's departure from the European Union.
• Stated "there was a "special place in Hell for those who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely."
• On 24 August 2019 in Biarritz for the G7 Summit, Tusk addressed reporters regarding Brexit, stating "one thing I will not cooperate on is no deal." He also said he hoped that Boris Johnson would not go down in history as "Mr No Deal."
• In September 2019, Tusk said that the EU should open accession talks with both Albania and North Macedonia.
• Tusk condemned the 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria.
• LSE political scientist Sara Hagemann said "he set the tone for a liberal and progressive agenda at a time of significant threat from populist and pro-Russian voices in Europe."

Second Premiership (2023–present)

• In July 2021, Donald Tusk returned to Warsaw.
• Actively reengaging in Polish politics as leader of Civic Platform.
• As of May 2022, Tusk was among the leading figures considered by the opposition for the potential future prime minister role.
• His overall net approval among the general population was reported as 24.4%
• In 2023, Tusk organized and led significant anti-government protests in Warsaw.
• Opposition supporters marked 1989 Solidarity win
• The first demonstration, aimed at opposing democratic backsliding in Poland, occurred on June 4, marking the 34th anniversary of Poland’s semi-free elections in 1989.
• Turnout was estimated at 300,000-500,000
• A subsequent protest, dubbed the “March of a Million Hearts” took place on October 1, likewise attracting hundreds of thousands
• During his campaign, Tusk advocated for enhanced LGBT rights, including introducing same-sex civil unions.
• Tusk promises new laws for 'victimised' LGBTQ+ community

2023 Polish parliamentary election

• Tusk's Civic Coalition finished as the second-largest bloc in the Sejm.
• Civic Coalition and two other opposition parties, Third Way and New Left, took 54% of the vote.
• On 10 November, Civic Coalition, New Left, the Polish People's Party and Poland 2050 formally signed an agreement to support Tusk as their candidate for prime minister.
• President Andrzej Duda nominated PiS incumbent Mateusz Morawiecki for another term as prime minister.
• Tusk publicly announced the agreement before the new Sejm convened to show he and the opposition stood ready to govern.
• Under the constitution, if Morawiecki did not win a confidence vote within two weeks of being sworn in
• Morawiecki's cabinet lost a vote of confidence in the Sejm on 11 December by 190 votes to 266.
• The Sejm subsequently nominated Tusk as its candidate for prime minister, by 248 votes in favor and 201 against.
• Tusk's cabinet was sworn in on 13 December.

Domestic Policy

• Tusk is hellbent on restoring democracy – even if it means war with his populist rivals.
• Tusk dismissed the top executives from Telewizja Polska
• In February 2024, responding to protests by European farmers, Tusk said he would push for changes to the European Green Deal.
• In March 2024, he insisted that Poland would go its own way "without European coercion".
• In January 2025, he blamed the European Green Deal for high energy prices in the EU.
• Responding to protests by European farmers, Tusk said he'll seek EU Green Deal changes to alleviate them
• Tusk’s administration oversaw the aarets of MPs Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik
• In April 2024, Tusk opposed the EU Migration Pact, stating "we will protect Poland from the relocation mechanism".
• In October 2024, Tusk announced plans to temporarily suspend the right of migrants to seek asylum in Poland.
• In January 2025, Tusk supported proposals to reduce benefits paid by Poland to Ukrainian refugees.
• In February 2025, Tusk unveiled plans for economic deregulation to spur growth, appointing InPost CEO Rafał Brzoska to lead the advisory team.
• Poland announces plan to cut benefits for Ukrainian refugees

Foreign policy

• On 22 January 2024, Tusk arrived in Kyiv, Ukraine on a working visit and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
• Tusk criticizes neutrality in Russia's war on Ukraine
• On International Criminal Court's arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alongside Hamas leaders: an attempt to show that the prime minister of Israel and the leaders of terrorist organizations are the same, and the involvement of international institutions in this, is unacceptable.
• Tusk guaranteed safe passage for senior Israeli officials to travel to an event marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp by Soviet troops
• Europe's leading defence spender.
• Allocating 4.7% of its GDP to military expenditure and significantly exceeding NATO's target threshold
• Ruling out sending Polish troops to Ukraine as part of a post-ceasefire peacekeeping force.
• Emphasised the need for a united and well-armed Europe.
• Proposing the creation of a European “Defense Bank” to finance military investments.

Personal Life

• Donald Tusk married Małgorzata Sochacka in 1978.
• They have two children, Michał and Katarzyna, and five grandchildren.
• Tusk belongs to the Kashubian minority in Poland.
• He speaks Polish, Kashubian, German, and English.
• Tusk's religious views became a subject of debate during his 2005 presidential campaign.
• On 12 December 2019, Tusk published his memoir Szczerze (Honestly)
• Poland's new leader is a man of eclectic identities

Honours and Awards

• 2010: The Charlemagne Prize of the city of Aachen
• 2012: Walther-Rathenau-Preis
• 2012: European Prize for Political Culture
• 2017: Honorary doctorate at the University of Pécs, Hungary
• 2018: Honorary doctorate at the TU Dortmund University, Germany
• 2019: Honorary doctorate at the University of Lviv, Ukraine
• 2008: Grand Cross Order of the Sun (Peru)
• 2012: Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit (Norway)
• 2013: Presidential Order of Excellence (Georgia)
• 2014: Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana (Estonia)
• 2019: The First Class of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (Ukraine)
• 2021: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (Japan)