Tusk calls government October 15 Coalition

Tusk, a former Polish prime minister and opposition leader, was elected prime minister by the lower house of parliament, the Sejm, on Monday after the government of Mateusz Morawiecki failed to win the Sejm’s vote of confidence.

Speaking in parliament on Tuesday morning, during his first address as prime minister, he said that October 15, the date of Poland's last parliamentary election, was a historic day. 

“I think that October 15 will go down in history as a day, not for the first time, of peaceful protest, a protest for freedom and democracy,” he said. 

Addressing the Polish people, Tusk thanked them for the record turnout during the election. 

“I would like to thank Poland. I am very proud of my country, of the Polish men and women, and also for the fact that at a crucial moment we were able to mobilise ourselves extraordinarily well, and bring about this, according to some, impossible breakthrough,” he said.

“Thanks to you, this pivotal moment has become, in a sense, a moment of history,” he added.

"Voters have elected a new governing coalition, which we will call, if you will permit us, the October 15 Coalition," Tusk said.

As he presented his government's programme to Polish MPs, he said that "Poland will regain its position as an EU leader by respecting the larger community."

At the same time, he added that "Poland is and will be a strong link in Nato... a stable ally of the US."  

"We will build the position we deserve through cooperation and respect for the community," Tusk said. 

He appealed to MPs of the former ruling party to "stop pretending that our friends and allies from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the European Union are a threat to Poland" and called on the whole Sejm for cooperation in restoring Poland to a position of strength in the European Union.

"Everyone who has finished primary school, who had a basic history course, must know that a lonely Poland is a Poland exposed to the greatest risks," he argued referring to Russia's war on neighbouring Ukraine. 

"I call on everyone here, without exception, to start cooperation with the new government, to put Poland on strong foundations, in this community, which is our community, and to help this government and me personally to rebuild Poland's position, so that Poland can decide what the European Union should look like," Tusk said.

At the same time, Tusk vowed he will stand up for Polish interests in the EU.

"The October 15 coalition knows very well that neither Poland nor Polish politicians should have complexes when it comes to anyone in Europe," he continued. 

He added that he would make sure no one in the EU will "trick him" and that he would oppose attempts to make changes to EU treaties that are not in Poland’s interests.

"No manoeuvres, no attempts to play games, no attempts to change treaties against our interests; that is out of the question", Tusk said.

But Tusk also said that he would go to Brussels this week and "bring back billions of euros", referring to European Union funds frozen under the previous government due to a rule of law dispute. 

He also said that his policy speech was a good opportunity to "speak loudly about Ukraine" and pledged that his government, "from day one", will demand that the West helps Ukraine fight off the Russian aggression.

"We will, and I am counting on the cooperation of all political forces, to loudly and firmly demand the full mobilisation of the free world, the Western world, to help Ukraine in this war," he said.

At the same time, Tusk admitted that "Poland's full commitment to Ukraine in the cruel conflict with the Russian aggressor cannot mean the lack of cordial, friendly assertiveness when it comes to Polish interests."

He mentioned the interests of Polish entrepreneurs, truck drivers and farmers, adding that it is not difficult to help an ally and accommodate "these two matters precisely" at the same time. 

He also announced that after his visit to Brussels, he would head to Tallinn to meet the prime ministers of Latvia and Estonia. 

On domestic matters the new prime minister said spoke about the importance of observing the constitution and the consistent adherence to democratic principles.

"If we want to rebuild the national community and look forward to the rebirth of our Polish community, we must respect the rules we set for everyone, with the constitution at the forefront," Tusk argued.

According to him, what really builds a community are the rule of law, the constitution, democratic principles and secure borders.

"These are the issues that we should in no way argue about or dispute," Tusk said. 

On the subject of economic issues, the new prime minister announced that his government will set up a Fiscal Council to examine state spending to make sure it does not jeopardise the country's financial stability.

Tusk also said that the new government will not go back on the budget decisions made by the outgoing Law and Justice (PiS) government.

"Nothing that has been given over the years, which the Polish citizens are entitled to, will be taken away," he said. 

"As we promised - we will immediately introduce the second annual indexation of pensions when inflation exceeds 5 percent," Tusk went on to say.

"As part of the 'Active Mum' programme, we will pay every mum, every family, all parents who need help to look after their little one PLN 1,500 (EUR 345) a month," he said and added, 'these are just some examples.'

Tusk also talked about the budget proposals of his party, the Civic Coalition (KO), saying that they will be realised, some of them, like the raises for teachers, as soon as January 1.

He promised a 30-percent pay rise to teachers and a 20-percent rise for the whole public sector.

"The whole of Poland will hold us accountable for this, I am not afraid of that,” he said. "On behalf of the whole future government I can say - we are not afraid of any of these promises, they will be fulfilled." (PAP)
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