Donald Tusk: Polish Politics and European Roles

Prime Minister of Poland

• Took office on December 13, 2023
• Succeeded Mateusz Morawiecki
• Also served as Prime Minister from November 16, 2007 – September 22, 2014
• Succeeded Jarosław Kaczyński in 2007
• Ewa Kopacz succeeded him in 2014

President of the European Council

• Served from December 1, 2014 – November 30, 2019
• Succeeded Herman Van Rompuy
• Succeeded by Charles Michel

Leader of the Civic Platform

• Assumed office on July 3, 2021
• Borys Budka was his predecessor
• Served from June 1, 2003 – November 8, 2014
• Maciej Płażyński preceded him
• Succeeded by Ewa Kopacz

President of the European People's Party

• Held office from December 1, 2019 – June 1, 2022
• Joseph Daul was his predecessor
• Succeeded by Manfred Weber

Deputy Marshal of the Sejm

• Served from October 18, 2001 – October 18, 2005
• Jan Król was his predecessor
• Succeeded by Bronisław Komorowski

Deputy Marshal of the Senate

• Served from October 20, 1997 – October 18, 2001
• Zofia Kuratowska was his predecessor
• Succeeded by Kazimierz Kutz

Personal Details

• Born on April 22, 1957, in Gdańsk, Polish People's Republic
• Affiliated with the Civic Coalition in Poland (since 2018) and the European People's Party (2014–2022) in the EU
• Married to Małgorzata Sochacka in 1978
• Has two children
• Studied at the University of Gdańsk

Key Facts

• Donald Franciszek Tusk is a Polish politician and historian
• Served as Prime Minister of Poland since 2023 and previously from 2007 to 2014
• Served as President of the European Council (2014-2019) and leader of the European People's Party (2019-2022)
• Co-founded Civic Platform
• Longest-serving prime minister of the Third Polish Republic

Early Political Involvement

• Officially involved in Polish politics since 1989
• Co-founded the Liberal Democratic Congress party (KLD)
• Entered the Sejm in 1991 but lost his seat in 1993
• KLD merged with the Democratic Union to form the Freedom Union in 1994
• Elected to the Senate in 1997 and became its deputy marshal
• Co-founded Civic Platform (PO) in 2001
• Elected to the Sejm again and became its deputy marshal

2005 Presidential Election

• Ran unsuccessfully for President of Poland in 2005
• Lost to Lech Kaczyński

First Premiership (2007–2014)

• Led the PO to victory in the 2007 parliamentary election and became prime minister
• Won a second term in 2011, becoming the first Polish prime minister re-elected since 1989
• Appointed President of the European Council in 2014
• Resigned as prime minister and was succeeded by Ewa Kopacz

Political Shift

• Civic Platform lost control of the presidency and parliament to Law and Justice (PiS) in 2015
• Remained President of the European Council until 2019
• Returned to Polish politics in 2021, becoming leader of the Civic Platform again

2023 Election and Return to Premiership

• Civic Coalition won 157 seats in the Sejm in the 2023 election
• Elected by the Sejm to become prime minister for a third time after Mateusz Morawiecki failed to secure a vote of confidence
• Cabinet was sworn in on December 13, ending eight years of PiS government

Domestic Policy (First Term)

• Oversaw the reduction and digitization of the public sector
• Invested in infrastructure, expanding the highway network for Euro 2012
• Cooling economy and austerity policies led to a drop in public support during his second term

Opposition to PiS

• Opposed what considered democratic backsliding under PiS
• Focused on improving the rule of law and relations with the EU upon returning to power in 2023

Current Policies

• Continued aid to Ukraine after the Russian invasion
• Appropriated right-wing themes, such as opposition to illegal migration and prioritizing border security in 2024
• Suspended the right of asylum for those crossing the Belarus–Poland border illegally

Early Life and Origins

• Born and raised in Gdańsk
• Has Polish, German, and Kashubian origins
• Identifies as Polish, Kashubian, and European
• Father was a carpenter; mother was a nurse
• Maternal grandmother's native language was Danzig German

Family History

• Paternal grandfather was imprisoned in the Neuengamme concentration camp
• Grandfather was forcibly conscripted into the Wehrmacht but defected to the Polish Armed Forces in the West

Influences

• Described Gdańsk as "a typical frontier town" with diverse ethnicities
• Kashubian ancestry and multilingual family shaped awareness
• Developed a political perspective against orthodoxy, ideology, and nationalism

Youth and Education

• Recalled youth under communism as "so hopeless"
• Described self as a "typical hooligan"
• Witnessing clashes between workers and riot police sparked interest in politics
• Studied history at the University of Gdańsk, graduating in 1980
• Active in the Student Committee of Solidarity

Liberal Democratic Congress (KLD)

• One of the founders of the KLD
• Won 37 seats in the 1991 elections
• KLD later merged with the Democratic Union (UD) to become the Freedom Union (UW)
• Became deputy chairman of the new party
• Got elected to the Senate in 1997

Civic Platform Founding

• Co-founded Civic Platform in 2001
• Became deputy speaker in parliament after the party won seats in the year's election

2005 Polish Presidential Election

• Key presidential candidates were Tusk and Lech Kaczyński
• Tusk wanted church-state separation, rapid European integration, and a free-market economy
• Accusation arose that Tusk's grandfather was a Nazi collaborator during WWII

2007 Polish Parliamentary Election Victory

• Civic Platform, led by Tusk, won the 2007 Polish parliamentary election
• Defeated incumbent Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński's Law and Justice party, securing about 42% of the vote to their 32%
• Tusk and his cabinet were sworn in on November 16, becoming the fourteenth prime minister of the Third Polish Republic

2011 Re-election

• Civic Platform retains parliamentary majority in the 2011 Polish parliamentary election
• Tusk was granted a second term as prime minister
• Became Poland's first PM to win reelection since the fall of communism.

Appointment as President of the European Council

• In September 2014, leaders of the European Union unanimously voted to select Tusk as Herman van Rompuy's successor for President of the European Council
• Poland gained its first European leadership position since the fall of the Berlin Wall
• Tusk resigned as prime minister, succeeded by Marshal of the Sejm Ewa Kopacz

Domestic Policy

• Initially promised to continue free market policies
• Stated he would streamline bureaucracy
• Planned to enact long-term stable governance
• Hoped to cut taxes to attract greater foreign business ventures
• Intended to encourage Polish citizens living overseas to return to Poland
• Aimed to privatize state-owned companies.
• Later changed views on the role of taxation
• Government never cut taxes
• Raised VAT from 22% to 23% in 2011
• Increased the tax on diesel oil, alcohol, tobacco, and coal
• Eliminated various tax exemptions
• Number of people employed in public administration grew substantially
• By 2012, foreign investments in Poland had not matched the peak level of 2006–07
• Number of Poles living abroad in 2013 was at the same level as in 2007

Austerity Program

• Government led by Tusk oversaw an austerity program

National Road Network

• The construction of a more adequate and larger national road network in preparation for the UEFA 2012 football championships was a stated priority

Gambling Ban

• In October 2009, Tusk declared a desire to ban gambling partially

Swine Flu Pandemic

• Tusk defended the decision not to purchase swine flu vaccine during the 2009 pandemic
• Cited the lack of testing by pharmaceutical companies and its unavailability to be purchased freely through the market
• Criticized other nations' responses to the pandemic

Social Issues

• Moderately conservative on social issues
• Opposed to legalizing abortion on demand, supporting current Polish legislation and protecting human life best
• Publicly opposed euthanasia

Shifting Abortion Stance

• June 2022: Tusk shifts his stance and supports a bill that would legalize abortion up to 12 weeks

Foreign Policy Goals

• Sought to improve relations, especially with Germany and Russia, which were damaged during the previous Kaczyński government
• Stressed the need for warm relations with Berlin, despite criticizing words of German politician Erika Steinbach
• Advocated a more realistic relationship with Moscow, especially in regard to energy policy
• Polish meat and agricultural products ban by Russia was lifted under Tusk's premiership
• Poland reversed its disagreement on a European Union-Russian partnership agreement.
• Proposed withdrawing military units from Iraq, while maintaining commitment to the United States
• Completed the withdrawal in October 2008.

Missile Defense Shield

• Showed skepticism toward U.S. plans of hosting missile defense shield bases in the country
• Relented and supported the missile shield by August, declaring Poland and the United States would be more secure

Obama's Revised Strategy

• Following President Barack Obama's decision to scrap and revise missile defense strategy, Tusk said it was "a chance to strengthen Polish-US co-operation in defense..."

Military Action in Libya

• Announced Polish soldiers would not take military action in Libya
• Voiced support for the 2011 military intervention in Libya and pledged to offer logistical support.

Support for Viktor Orbán

• Supported Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in his efforts of implementing a new controversial constitution, despite condemnation from foreign governments and the EU
• Stated that the Hungarian constitution's democratic controversies were "exaggerated" and that Hungary had "a European level standard of democracy."
• Support garnered a rare show of solidarity with the opposition Law and Justice, which also publicly displayed support for Orbán's efforts.

Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA)

• In early 2012, Tusk announced support for committing Poland to signing the international Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA)
• Websites including the Chancellery, Sejm and Presidency were hacked in mid-January
• Authorized the Polish ambassador in Japan to sign the agreement, despite internet protests
• Mass protests erupted in late January, with demonstrations held in Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław and Kielce

European Policy Positions

• Strongly supported greater political and economic integration within the European Union
• Backed the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty
• Repeatedly stated government's intention in bringing Poland into the Eurozone
• Envisaged a starting year of 2015 as "a realistic and not overly-ambitious goal," originally wanting to introduce the euro by 2012
• Tusk and government displayed less optimism in joining the monetary union during the European sovereign debt crisis
• Pushed that Poland, along with the other non-eurozone states of the EU, should be included in future euro financial negotiations.
• Poland under Tusk's government presided over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Croatia's Entry into the EU

• Poland supported and welcomed Croatia's entry into the European Union through the Treaty of Accession 2011.

Weimar Triangle

• Showed displeasure over German Chancellor Angela Merkel's and French President Nicolas Sarkozy's dominating roles in eurozone negotiations as member of the Weimar Triangle
• Stated that "this should not translate into a lasting political monopoly: things cannot be left to only two capitals of Europe."

Constitutional Reform Proposals

• Relations between Tusk and President Lech Kaczyński were often acrimonious due to different political ideologies
• Kaczyński blocked legislation drafted by the Tusk government using presidential veto powers
• Proposed changes to the power of the presidency, including abolishing the presidential veto
• Proposed that the presidential veto be overridden by a simple parliamentary majority
• Suggested reducing the Sejm from a membership of 460 to 300
• Proposed abolishing the upper house altogether or reducing the Senate from 100 to 49, including former presidents to sit in the Senate
• Proposed stripping parliamentary immunity for all members of the Sejm and Senate, except for in special situations
• Wanted to expand the prime minister's role in foreign policy decisions.
• Opposition conservative Law and Justice party criticized Tusk's constitutional reform proposals

Presidential Candidacy Considerations

• Considered running again as Civic Platform's candidate for that year's presidential election
• Declared intention of staying as prime minister, allowing his party to choose another candidate

Presidency 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
• Warned illegal economic migrants not to come to Europe
• Warned of dire consequences should the UK vote to leave, ahead of the UK's EU membership referendum
• Pursued a hard line on the UK's withdrawal from the European Union after the UK voted to leave.
• Caused controversy after his official Instagram account posted an image of himself handing a slice of cake to British Prime Minister Theresa May
• Opposed the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany in 2018.
• Wrote an open letter to 27 EU heads of state or government on the future of the EU before the Malta summit
• Mentioned the Trump administration as a threat to the EU

Re-election and Brexit Comments

• Re-elected for a second term to run until November 30, 2019, receiving 27 of 28 votes
• Szydło refused to sign the EU statement issued at the end of the council's meeting in protest at Tusk's reelection
• Maintained that there will be no winners from Brexit and that the two years following the triggering of Article 50 will be a time of damage limitation.

Foreign Policy Statements

• Urged Turkey "to avoid threats or actions against any EU member and instead commit to good neighborly relations, peaceful dispute settlement and respect for territorial sovereignty."
• Expressed concern over the Turkish invasion of northern Syria in 2018
• Expressed "deep sadness" after the death of Chinese Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo

Brexit and EU Accession

• 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."
• Reaffirmed support for Albania and North Macedonia EU accession talks
• Condemned Erdogan's threats of flooding Europe with refugees
• Called the Turkish operation in northern Syria destabilizing the region
• Demanded Turkey halt the operation

Legacy as President of the European Council

• Described as setting "the tone for a liberal and progressive agenda at a time of significant threat from populist and pro-Russian voices in Europe."

Return to Polish Politics and Protests

• Returned to Warsaw in July 2021, reengaging in Polish politics as leader of Civic Platform
• approval among the general population was reported as 24.4% as of May 2022
• Organized and led significant anti-government protests in Warsaw in 2023
• The first demonstration occurred on June 4, marking the 34th anniversary of Poland’s semi-free elections in 1989
• Estimates place turnout at 300,000-500,000,
• "March of a Million Hearts” protest took place on October 1, attracting hundreds of thousands to galvanize opposition

2023 Polish Parliamentary Election

• Civic Coalition finished as the second-largest bloc in the Sejm in the 2023 Polish parliamentary election
• Civic Coalition, Third Way, and New Left took 54% of the vote
• Signed an agreement to support Tusk as their candidate for prime minister
• President Andrzej Duda nominated PiS incumbent Mateusz Morawiecki
• Morawiecki fell short of the support needed
• Tusk publicly announced the agreement to show the opposition stood ready to govern
• Lost a vote of confidence in the Sejm on December 11
• Nominated Tusk as its candidate for prime minister, by 248 votes in favor and 201 against
• Tusk's cabinet was sworn in on December 13

Domestic Policy Actions

• Dismissed top executives from Telewizja Polska, promising to turn state media into a source of reliable information
• TVP was considered a "propaganda machine for the PiS government”
• Dismissals resulted in sit-in protest by PiS supporters and a spat between Tusk and President Duda
• Cambridge professor Stanley Bill noted a personal motive due to the demonization Tusk endured during PiS rule.

EU Green Deal Changes

• Responded to protests by European farmers in February 2024 and pushed for changes to the European Green Deal
• Insisted that Poland would go its own way "without European coercion" in March 2024
• Blamed the European Green Deal for high energy prices in the EU in January 2025.

Arrests of Kamiński and Wąsik

• Administration oversaw the arrests of MPs Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik
• Both tried for exceeding authority since 2015
• President Duda had issued pardons to both of the accused, which became embroiled in a legal battle
• The Supreme Court of Poland ultimately ruling them invalid
• Tensions grew between prime minister and president, with the MPs staying in the Presidential Palace

Opposition to EU Migration Pact

• April 2024: Tusk opposed the EU Migration Pact, stating "we will protect Poland from the relocation mechanism"

Suspension of Right to Asylum

• Tusk announces plans to temporarily suspend the right to migrants seeking asylum in Poland in October 2024
• Cites abuses in the context of hybrid warfare activity carried out by Belarus and Russia, resulting in such EU border crisis

Limits on Refugee Benefits

• Tusk supports proposals to reduce benefits paid by Poland to Ukrainian refugees in January 2025
• Eligibilty would be limited to those actually living in the country

Economic Deregulation Plans

• Tusk unveils plans for economic deregulation in February 2025 to spur growth
• Appoints InPost CEO Rafał Brzoska to lead the advisory team

Statements on Russo-Ukrainian War

• Arrived in Kyiv on January 22, 2024, and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
• Stated that all those who chose neutrality in the Russo-Ukrainian War deserved "the darkest place in political hell"
• Called for the "full mobilization" of the West
• Has supported efforts to strengthen European strength in the face of Russia

Criticism of International Criminal Court

• Criticized the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in May 2024
• Said "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."
• The leaders of Israel and Hamas are suspected of committing war crimes in the Israel–Hamas war in Gaza.

Conditions for Ukraine's EU Membership

• Said Ukraine's membership in the European Union would not be possible without resolving the question of Polish victims of the Volhynian Genocide in August 2024
• Guaranteed safe passage for senior Israeli officials to travel to an event marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp in January 2025

Defense Policy

• Poland was Europe's leading defence spender, allocating 4.7% of its GDP to military expenditure in February 2025
• Emphasised maintaining strong U.S.-European relations
• Ruled out sending Polish troops to Ukraine as part of a post-ceasefire peacekeeping force

Proposal for European “Defense Bank”

• Emphasized the need for a united and well-armed Europe in March 2025
• Proposed the creation of a European “Defense Bank” to finance military investments

Personal Life Details

• Married Małgorzata Sochacka in 1978 in Gdańsk
• Has two children, Michał and Katarzyna, and five grandchildren
• Belongs to the Kashubian minority in Poland
• Compares his family history to the Jewish experience
• Speaks Polish, Kashubian, German, and English

Languages

• Criticized in 2014 for poor English and lack of French
• Underwent intensive language training
• Gave a seven-minute speech only in Romanian at the Romanian Athenaeum in Bucharest in January 2019

Religious Views

• Religious views became a subject of debate during his 2005 presidential campaign
• Requested a Catholic marriage ceremony with his wife shortly before the election

Publication of Memoir

• Published his memoir Szczerze (Honestly) on December 12, 2019, reflecting on his memories as President of the European Council

Charlemagne Prize

• Granted the Charlemagne Prize of the city of Aachen on May 13, 2010
• Dedicated the prize to the people killed in a plane crash of a Polish Air Force Tu-154 in April 2010
• German chancellor Angela Merkel gave the eulogy

Walther-Rathenau-Preis

• Walther-Rathenau-Preis in May 2012 "in recognition for his commitment to European integration during Poland's Presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2011 and for fostering Polish–German dialogue."

Honours and Awards

• European Prize for Political Culture
• Honorary doctorates at the University of Pécs, TU Dortmund University, and others