Politicians from the ruling Civic Platform party in Poland express surprise at President Kaczynski’s refusal to sign the Lisbon Treaty ratification Bill.

According to politicians of the governing Civic Platform (PO) party, President Lech Kaczynski's statement that the Lisbon Treaty is 'dead' and therefore there is no use him signing it places Poland among countries that 'undermine a common European future'.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Lech Kaczynski's statement does not serve Poland's interests. According to him, an irresolute stance will not be well accepted by other EU countries.

The PM reminded that it was the President who took part in negotiating the treaty.

Asked about the increasing animosity between government and presidential palace and his private relationship with the President, Tusk answered: "The President does not have to be nice to me - he has to be nice to Poland and act in the country's best interests."   

Internal minister and deputy PM, Grzegorz Schetyna, told TOK FM radio that he is surprised by the President's statement. 

According to the head of the PM's cabinet Slawomir Nowak, what the President said "would confirm the general thesis that President Kaczynski's administration is really confused when judging what is best for Poland".

According to the speaker of the lower house of parliament, Bronislaw Komorowski, Poland should quickly ratify the treaty.

"Poland should be one of the countries that will help the Irish overcome the crisis by finishing the ratification process as soon as possible," he told the TVN24 news channel. "Parliament has done its part and today only the President has to sign, as it is Mr. President who negotiated the Lisbon Treaty," added Komorowski.

The German media judged Poland's problems with ratifying the treaty as a blow for French President Nicolas Sarkozy as he takes over the rotating EU presidency this month. (mo)

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‘Lisbon Treaty is dead’, says President Kaczynski, thenews.pl, July 1