German Chancellor to argue for Tusk second term: report

The head of Poland’s governing party said last month that Tusk cannot be supported for a second term.

Merkel is to arrive in Warsaw on 7 February, according to Poland’s IAR news agency.

A German Christian Democrat politician with links to the Chancellor’s office told a Polish Radio correspondent in Brussels that his fellow party members are lobbying for Tusk, whose 30-month term is due to end on 31 May.

The German politician added that Merkel wants an atmosphere of peace instead of arguments about top jobs in the EU as Brussels addresses Britain’s exit from the bloc and tries to hammer out a common position on the migration crisis.

The German politician said that it would be easier to extend Tusk’s term in office as President of the European Council than to look for a new candidate.

Jarosław Kaczyński, head of Poland’s ruling conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, said recently that Tusk “is in favour of solutions that are extremely harmful to Poland.”

Kaczyński said Tusk was in favour of financial penalties for European Union member states that do not accept a quota of refugees, a move which the Polish government strongly opposes.

“We simply cannot support such a person,” Kaczyński added.

(pk)

Source: Polish Radio/IAR