A leap forward

I could find no other idiom to fit better what nomination for European Council President for prime minister Tusk is. In Polish, the phrase ucieczka do przodu, has a slightly ambiguous meaning, since it denotes a situation in which somebody take steps to be better off, but also in order to evade troubles or shirk responsibility (this is what he also does). The proposal to entrust Mr Tusk one of the most prestigious positions in EU administration fills me with pride, but also brings to mind some ponderings upon the impact of this nomination on Mr Tusk’s career and on Polish politics as a whole.

No matter if you embrace or reject him, Mr Tusk will go down as the first prime minister in democratic Poland to have been re-elected and to have held the office for at least seven years (or almost two terms). He cannot be denied drive and charisma thanks to which he has headed his party for many years, but the same traits helped him eliminate dissenters inside the grouping. His speeches were compelling and millions of Poles fell for them, although time proved many of his words had been hollow. He attained a lot in the Polish politics, he and his party after seven years of being in power have grown so complacent that from some point the only natural direction of their evolution has been downhill. Poles have become kind of fed up with policy of lukewarm water, pursued quite well and although the country is run ‘up to the mark’, some kind of displeasure pushes them towards a change…

The opportunity to take up a prominent EU seat is the one which ought not to be missed. If Mr Tusk seizes it, he will get his last chance to step down in glory. After the next parliamentary election he would eventually step down in disgrace, no matter if he won the election, only as the lesser of two evisl, or if the winner was Mr Kaczynski.

The move leaves Mr Tusk’s party devoid of charismatic leader who used to be in charge of it from the very beginning and kept it together for years. Many candidates will surely have designs on his position, however I dare to suspect cards have long been handed and wait to be unveiled, so his successors have been designated and wait to take charge… The Civic Platform after Mr Tusk’s departure to Brussels might equally well emerge stronger, reinforced by the success of its many-years’ commander-in-chief, or might fall apart, dragged down by chieftains scuffling for headship.

The opposition in unison congratulated Mr Tusk on his success as this in fact is primarily a distinction for Poland and even Mr Kaczynski expressed his backing for the prime minister’s candidacy. Politicians from all parties are probably silently closing ranks before contingent early elections. For all actors of the political arena in Poland accelerated parliamentary elections might mean a blessing as well as a curse. All of the sudden they may either benefit from low support for the ruling party or fall victim of Mr Tusk’s promotion which might bolster up the position of his party.

Time will tell how things shape up in Poland, but today, I am immensely proud a Pole will head one of the EU institutions. For Poland it is a well-deserved position and Mr Tusk, let’s face the truth, is one of few Poles who could be short-listed for such job, despite some shortcomings, e.g. his insufficient command of foreign languages which was mentioned several times. I cannot imagine Mr Miller or Mr Kaczynski or any of the prominent politicians from the opposition not even holding such position, not because of their incompetence, but seeing them striving for being considered as a candidate, rubbing shoulders with European leaders is beyond my imagination…