Tusk after winning the general election, October 2007Though Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government marks 1000 days in power today, there will be no celebrations: “We have too much work to do,” says minister without portfolio Pawel Gras.
“Our two priority projects remain reform of the health care system, under Minister Ewa Kopacz, and to heal public finances,” said Gras.
Gras said one of the clearest signs of success of the government’s term so far was Poland’s economy being one of the healthiest in Europe, following positive growth last year, unique among the 27 nation EU.
Deputy speaker of the lower house of parliament, Law and Justice MP Zbigniew Romaszewski, told Polish Radio this morning, however, that the relative health of the Polish economy is more to do with Poland’s slightly peripheral relationship to the European banking system than with the financial competence of the government.
Zbigniew Romaszewski believes that Donald Tusk’s government has no concept of governance and has failed to reform public media and other institutions.
Civic Platform at a crossroads
The ruling coalition, led by Donald Tusk’s Civic Platform, finds itself at a crossroads after 1000 days in office. Following the success of party member Bronislaw Komorowski in the July presidential election, Civic Platform now dominates the legislative and executive – in alliance with junior partner the Polish Peasant’s Party – and the Presidential Palace.
This means that no blame can be put on the previous difficult ‘cohabitation’ between government and the late president Lech Kaczynski, who vetoed reforms in health, public media and much else besides.
1000 DAYS - KEY MOMENTS
Dec 21, 2007: Poland enters the Schengen border free travel zone.
Sep 20, 2008: The then US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice and Poland’s foreign minister Radek Sikorski sign the anti-missile shield agreement in Warsaw. The agreement was later torn up by President Barack Obama in favour of a mobile defence shield which Poland will play a part in from 2018.
Oct 4, 2008: After five years Poland ends its mission in war-torn Iraq.
Jan 21, 2009: The first high profile resignation of a minister occurs when justice minister Zbigniew Cwiakalski falls on his sword after the suicide of Robert Pazik, the third murderer of Krzysztof Olewnik, the son of a wealthy Polish businessman, to take his own life while in prison. The minister hands in his resignation after accusations he had lost control over the prosecution.
Oct 1, 2009: Gamble-gate - resignations of justice minister, interior minister, sports minister and head of the Civic Platform party in parliament follow allegations that members of the government had been lobbying on behalf of the gambling industry. Michal Kaminski, head of the anti-corruption bureau is sacked by Prime Minister Tusk after making the allegations. Civic Platform believed Kaminski was using his post to further political goals of the opposition Law and Justice party.
Jan 28, 2010: Donald Tusk surprises many when he announces he will not run in the presidential elections scheduled for later that year and will stay as prime minister.
April 10, 2010: The Smolensk disaster rocks Poland’s political scene with the death of President Lech Kaczynski and many prominent politicians in the Law and Justice party and military top brass. Earlier presidential elections are called.
July 4: Bronislaw Komorowski elected as President of Poland, defeating Law and Justice’s Jaroslaw Kaczynski.
July 2010: Battle over Smolensk cross reveals deep divide between Civic Platform and opposition Law and Justice.
Aug 3, 2010: Government unveils plan to tackle ballooning government debt. Apart from a freeze on public sector pay and other cost-cutting measures Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed earlier reports that the Finance Ministry intends to add one percent to VAT. Opposition claims the remedies will hit the poorest the hardest in Poland. (pg)
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