Poland confirms Saryusz-Wolski as candidate for European Council President
PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea
05.03.2017 12:30
The Polish Foreign Ministry has formally presented the candidature of Polish MEP Jacek Saryusz-Wolski to run for President of the European Council.
A file picture dated 02 March 2017 shows Polish MEP Jacek Saryusz-Wolski during a plenary session at the EU Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. Photo: EPA/STEPHANIE LECOCQ
Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said that “Jacek Saryusz-Wolski represents a high level of professionalism and provides a pledge and guarantee of impartiality”.
He will be running against Donald Tusk, a former prime minister of Poland, for the position.
Saryusz-Wolski has been an MEP for Poland's Civic Platform (PO) party since 2004. On Saturday the leadership of the opposition PO decided to exclude him from the group.
Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, said in January that Poland should not support Tusk's bid for the post. “He is in favour of solutions that are extremely harmful to Poland,” Kaczyński said.
He added that Tusk was in favour of financial penalties for European Union member states that do not accept a quota of refugees, which the Polish government strongly opposes.
“We simply cannot support such a person,” he added.
Tusk’s 30-month term as the President of the European Council is due to end on 31 May.
The term of office of the European Council President runs from 1 June 2017 until 30 November 2019.
(rg/pk)
Source: PAP, MSZ