The Difficult Path of Reforms: Donald Tusk in Struggle with the Polish Opposition

Donald Tusk, the Polish Prime Minister, took office last year with the promise to remove the political beneficiaries appointed by the previous euroskeptic government. However, he has only been partially successful in implementing this ambitious plan so far. Tusk began restoring relations with Brussels by releasing frozen EU funds for Poland and restoring the country's international reputation. On the national level, however, Polish society remains deeply divided. Tusk's plans face significant resistance from senior officials who are loyal to the opposition party Law and Justice (PiS). Conflicts with President Andrzej Duda, whose veto power stalls Tusk's initiatives, as well as with the constitutional judiciary and the central bank, complicate the implementation of Tusk's reform agenda. PiS, led by Jarosław Kaczyński, accuses Tusk of conducting a witch hunt against the party. Despite several scandals within the ranks of PiS, their voter base remains stable. Recent polls indicate that Tusk's Civic Coalition leads among voters with 32.9%, closely followed by PiS with 32.1%. With numerous European partners backing him, Tusk's political return to Brussels forms a powerful counterpoint to the far-right parties that have recently gained ground in Europe. Relations between Brussels and Warsaw improved after Tusk's inauguration, leading to the conclusion of a procedure against Poland and the release of EU funds. Nonetheless, Tusk must assert himself within a cumbersome coalition that prevents him from taking bold steps, such as on women's rights issues. Rural coalition partners blocked legislation to legalize abortion support. Despite these obstacles, Tusk repeatedly manages to increase pressure on his coalition partners while skillfully maneuvering foreign relations. This is also evident as Poland is set to take over the rotating EU Council presidency, further solidifying Tusk's presence in European decision-making.