Polish president vows to veto spending bill in massive clash with new government
Polish president vows to veto spending bill in massive clash with new government
The move is the most high-profile conflict yet between President Andrzej Duda and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
On Wednesday, Poland’s new government moved to seize control of the country’s publicly owned television, radio and news agency from loyalists to the Law and Justice (PiS) party, which lost power following the October 15 parliamentary election. Duda was a PiS member and is still loyal to the party.
We are seeing a clash between the old, right-wing government that is not afraid to bend or break rules in order to stack the political landscape in their favor and the new coalition that wants a return to normalcy, which can't or won't bend the rules in order to reverse the damage PiS has done to the polish democracy. This could become a grid lock for years. If I remember correctly, the polish presidents' term lines up with the new governments' term, so the best they can hope for is winning the next election again.
I really hope Poland and the US can bounce back from their respective wanna-be dictators. It would make me much more hopeful for western democracies and Hungary specifically.
I looked around and apparently it's not that bad - his term ends in 2025 (elections are to be held in May at the latest) so he'll be there for about half of new government's tenance.
Still not great but there's a chance for at least some time without sabotage from the other side. Here's hoping they make it count.
He found a pen!!! Wow! After so many years!!!
I don't have the background and yet I find this hilarious.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
On Wednesday, Poland’s new government moved to seize control of the country’s publicly owned television, radio and news agency from loyalists to the Law and Justice (PiS) party, which lost power following the October 15 parliamentary election.
“I would like to inform you that after Christmas, I will immediately submit my own project to the parliament, regarding, among other things, raises for teachers and other expenses planned in the budget-related act.”
Jan Grabiec, the head of the prime minister’s chancellery, called Duda’s announcement “absurd.”
However, the relationship between the new government and the president, who retains the ability to veto legislation, has been rocky, with Duda making clear he will use his presidential powers to thwart the new administration.
The clash over public media and the budget is part of a broader battle as the Tusk government tries to cut PiS off from its sources of political power and cash.
On Tuesday, Tusk appointed new heads for the main intelligence and security agencies, which had been accused of supporting PiS and of spying on the party’s opponents.
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