Donald Tusk
Prime Minister
Polish Prime Minister Tusk Pushes for Solidarity With Love In Poland.
Warsaw, Poland, 26 November, 2007 Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk's three hours of policy speech made before the Polish Sejm continued his approach toward fostering unification and dialogue.
Since elected Tusk has seen his popularity with the Polish people rise to fifty eight percent. And all that he did to achieve that was approach formation of his government quietly and calmly. Notably he has openly ignored confrontation with the contentious Kaczynski twins.
His policy speech continued his calm approach to governing Poland.
He showed his overall philosophy when he quoted John Paul II in saying, "There can be no solidarity without love."
In his policy speech prior to being given the vote of confidence that installed him as Prime Minister, he emphasized that his Government would pursue a liberal economic policy but it would be combined with a social policy based on solidarity.
With the Kaczynski brothers being his main opponents in the Government, he said that he will consult with all the opposition to try to build a consensus on foreign policy.
As part of that effort, he expressed hope that President Lech Kaczynski would support the Tusk Government's diplomatic initiatives.
Looking forward to ratification of the European Union Treaty, he said that he would take the same path as the United Kingdom and limit the European Charter of Fundamental Rights. Such a position would avoid confrontation with the Kaczynski's.
Tusk emphasized that his Government would continue to fight corruption, but he would also strive to restore confidence in the Government which plummeted in some circles after claims of abuse by the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
His economic goals include pay increases for state employees, lower taxes, increased privatisation and a lower budget deficit.
He made a call on the National Bank of Poland to follow policies that would support high economic growth and keep inflation low.
As for Iraq, his committment to remove troops by the end of next year constitutes an extension of the current committment to keep troops in Iraq. See Poland To Extend Stay Of Polish Troops In Iraq
For Tusk to be able to do what he wants, he is going to have to rely on political parties whose economic policies are more socialist than his. First he will have to get the support of his Government Coalition partner, PSL. Second he will have to have the support of the SLD in order to be sure that he can override Presidential veto's. New Polish Government Must Rely On Poland's Post Communists
So far he has set the tone and the Polish people like it. Because opponents may not wish to be cast as spoilers, he may be able to effectively compromise his way to achieving his goals.
