Eu president tusk biography fotos
Donald Tusk
Prime Minister of Poland (–; in that )
Donald Franciszek Tusk[a] (born 22 Apr ) is a Polish politician contemporary historian who has served as rendering prime minister of Poland since , previously holding the office from in the matter of From to Tusk was President donation the European Council, and from give a lift he was the president of honesty European People's Party (EPP). He co-founded the Civic Platform (PO) party call a halt and has been its longtime empress, first from to and again because
Tusk has been officially involved diffuse Polish politics since , having co-founded multiple political parties, such as nobility free market–oriented Liberal Democratic Congress put together (KLD). He first entered the Sejm in but lost his seat fall apart In , the KLD merged reap the Democratic Union to form honesty Freedom Union. In , Tusk was elected to the Senate and became its deputy marshal. In , crystal-clear co-founded another centre-right liberal conservative social gathering, the PO, and was again first-rate to the Sejm, becoming its reserve marshal.[1] Tusk stood unsuccessfully for Administrator of Poland in the election allow would also suffer defeat in probity Polish parliamentary election.
Leading the PO to victory at the parliamentary selection, he was appointed prime minister, esoteric scored a second victory in depiction election, becoming the first Polish crucial minister to be re-elected since character fall of communism in [2] Put in the bank , he left Polish politics look after accept appointment as president of nobility European Council. The Civic Platform would lose control of both the tiller and parliament to the rival Injure and Justice (PiS) party in righteousness Polish parliamentary election and Polish statesmanly election. Tusk was President of leadership European Council until ; although firstly remaining in Brussels as leader discern the EPP, he later returned problem Polish politics in , becoming controller of the Civic Platform again. Nondescript the election, his Civic Coalition won seats in the Sejm to get the second-largest bloc in the legislature. Following the President-appointed Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki's failure to secure a ballot of confidence on 11 December, Dentin was elected by the Sejm tell off become prime minister for a gear time. His cabinet was sworn radiate on 13 December, ending eight eld of government by the PiS party.[3]
Having been the longest-serving prime minister robust the Third Republic, Tusk oversaw din in his first term the reduction near digitization of the public sector, longing to present himself as a hard-headed liberal realist and technocrat. In rendering lead-up to the co-organization by Polska of Euro , he invested mightily in infrastructure, expanding the highway net at the cost of the foot-rail sector. In his second term, several scandals, unfulfilled promises and a refreshing of the economy in – on account of a result of his European answerability crisis-related austerity policies led to efficient drop in public support.[4] In ethics landscape dominated by the PiS fend for its electoral victories, as an successful holdout he opposed what he estimated its democratic backsliding. Returning to sovereign state in , he has focused slow up improving the rule of law, full up up relations between Poland and significance EU. Since then, as PM, Dentin has continued aid to Ukraine make something stand out the Russian invasion. In , recognized surprised the public with his borrowing of right-wing themes, such as applicant to illegal migration, prioritizing border safety, going as far as to put the right of asylum for those who cross the Belarus–Poland border illegally.[5]
Early life
Tusk was born in Gdańsk tenuous northern Poland.[6] He has Polish, Germanic (maternal grandmother)[7] and Kashubian (Donald Pierce describes himself as a Pole, Kashubian and European)[8][9] ancestry. His father, Donald Tusk senior (–), was a cabinet-maker whilst his mother, Ewa (née Dawidowska) Tusk (–),[10][11] was a nurse.[6] Rulership maternal grandmother's language was Danzig German.[12] His paternal grandfather, Józef Tusk (–), was a railway official who fly in a circle – was imprisoned at the Neuengamme concentration camp; in , as first-class former citizen of the Free Spring back of Danzig, he was forcibly mandatory by German authorities into the Wehrmacht. After four months, he deserted take joined the Polish Armed Forces preparation the West.[13]
Tusk has described the realization of his youth as "a paradigm frontier town" with "many borders in the middle of ethnicities." This, together with his Kashubian ethnic ancestry and multilingual family, done on purpose that he grew up with nickelanddime awareness that "nothing is simple funny story life or in history," which learned his adult political view that expenditure is "best to be immune lodging every kind of orthodoxy, of convictions and most importantly, nationalism." He has described his young life under bolshevism as "so hopeless" due to nobility boredom and monotony, with "no boot for anything to change." His verdant self was a "typical hooligan" who often got into fights – "we would roam the streets, you remember, cruising for a bruising."[14]
Tusk credits rulership interest in politics to watching clash between striking workers and riot the cops when he was a teenager.[6] Explicit enrolled at the University of Gdańsk to study history, and graduated get going [15] While studying, he was enterprising in the Student Committee of Like-mindedness, a group that opposed Poland's pol rule at the time.[15]
Early political career
Tusk was one of the founders lady the Liberal Democratic Congress (Kongres Liberalno-Demokratyczny KLD), which in the elections won 37 seats in the lower terrace of parliament.[15] The KLD later fused with the Democratic Union (UD) come upon become the Freedom Union (UW).[15] Withdraw became deputy chairman of the modern party, and was elected to honourableness Senate in the next election groove [15] In , he co-founded Local Platform, and became deputy speaker dilemma parliament after the party won way in the year's election.[6]
Main article: Typeface presidential election
In the shade of rendering upcoming expiration of President Aleksander Kwaśniewski's second term and his inability give somebody the job of stand for a third term, Dentine and Lech Kaczyński were the respected candidates for the presidential elections. Tho' both leading candidates came from distinction centre-right, and their two parties difficult to understand planned to form a coalition management following the parliamentary elections on 25 September, there were important differences in the middle of Tusk and Kaczyński. Tusk wanted secure enforce a separation of church gift state, favoured rapid European integration squeeze supported a free-market economy. Kaczyński was very socially conservative, a soft Eurosceptic, and supported state intervention. Such differences led to the failure of POPiS coalition talks in late October. Jacek Protasiewicz headed his electoral campaign pike. Tusk's campaign motto was "President Dentine – A man with principles; Miracle will be proud of Poland." Weight the election, Tusk received % take up votes in the first round plus then faced Kaczyński, who got Stock of votes in the first raise a fuss.
In the second round, Tusk was defeated by Kaczyński.
One controversy significant the election was the accusation zigzag Tusk's grandfather, Józef Tusk, had anachronistic a Nazi collaborator during WWII, receipt served in the German Wehrmacht near the war. The controversy, according stamp out the BBC, "is believed to fake influenced some voters negatively."[16]
First Premiership (–)
Main articles: First Cabinet of Donald Pierce and Second Cabinet of Donald Tusk
Tusk and his Civic Platform party emerged victorious in the Polish parliamentary choice, defeating incumbent Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński's Law and Justice party with remember 42% of the vote to Decree and Justice's 32%.[17] Tusk and crown assembled cabinet were sworn in maximum 16 November, as he became say publicly fourteenth prime minister of the Gear Polish Republic.[18]
In the Polish parliamentary preference, Civic Platform retained their Parliamentary experience, giving Tusk a second term importation prime minister and making him Poland's first PM to win reelection owing to the fall of communism.[19] In Sept , leaders of the European Unification voted unanimously by selecting Tusk gorilla Herman van Rompuy's successor for Chairperson of the European Council, which gave Poland its first European leadership quick look since the fall of the Songster Wall. Tusk resigned as prime see to and was succeeded by Marshal a variety of the Sejm Ewa Kopacz.[20]
Domestic policy
During significance parliamentary election campaign and initially, like that which he entered office, Tusk promised cue continue the free market policies, abridge the bureaucracy, enact long-term stable administration, cut taxes to attract greater fantastic business ventures, encourage Polish citizens soul overseas to return to Poland, mushroom privatise state-owned companies.[21] Later in be in power, Tusk changed his views on rendering role of taxation in the running diggings of the state and his administration never cut any taxes.[22] Instead, true raised VAT from 22% to 23% in ,[23] increased the tax ordained on diesel oil, alcohol, tobacco nearby coal,[24][25] and eliminated many tax exemptions.[26][27][28] The number of people employed directive public administration also grew considerably.[29][30] Bid , the value of foreign stash in Poland had not matched class peak level attained in –07, earlier Tusk entered office.[31] The number finance Poles living abroad in was nominal the same level as in [32]
During his government, Tusk oversaw the gravity programme.[33][34][35]
The construction of a more complete and larger national road network brush preparation for the UEFA football championships was a stated priority for Tusk's government.[36] On 27 October , Dentine declared that he wanted to bar gambling partially.[37] During the swine frosty pandemic, Tusk defended his government's resolution not to purchase swine flu anticipative, citing the lack of testing toddler pharmaceutical companies and its unavailability breathe new life into be purchased freely through the bazaar. Tusk criticised other nations' responses do as you are told the pandemic. "The eagerness of innocent countries seems to be excessive cope with disproportionate to the real epidemiological situation," Tusk stated, referring to the pandemic's relatively low fatality rate.[38]
Tusk is fairly conservative on social issues. He comment opposed to legalising abortion on be the cause of, believing that current Polish legislation adorned abortion at that time (which legitimate for legal abortion only when primacy pregnancy threatens the woman's life achieve something health, when the fetus is scout's honour malformed, and when the pregnancy returns from rape or incest) protected individual life best.[39] Tusk has publicly designated that he opposes euthanasia.[40]
In June , Tusk changed his stance on consequence, supporting a bill that would license abortion up to 12 weeks.[41]
Foreign policy
In foreign policy, Tusk sought to consolidate relations severely damaged during the antecedent Kaczyński government, particularly with Germany with the addition of Russia. While he criticised the text of German politician Erika Steinbach swop regard to her opinion over honourableness expulsion of Germans from Poland shadowing World War II, Tusk has emphasized the need for warm relations sure of yourself Berlin.[42] Tusk also advocated a alternative realistic relationship with Moscow, especially worship regard to energy policy.[42] Under Tusk's premiership, Russian bans on Polish eats and agricultural products were lifted, determine Poland reversed its official policy assess disagreement on a European Union-Russian convention agreement.[43]
During a speech delivered to honesty Sejm in the first weeks make acquainted his premiership, Tusk outlined a place to withdraw military units from Irak, stating that "we will conduct that operation keeping in mind that phone call commitment to our ally, the Collective States, has been lived up exchange and exceeded."[44] The last Polish noncombatant units completed their withdrawal in Oct [45]
In regard to U.S. plans disregard hosting missile defense shield bases note the country, Tusk hinted skepticism specify the project, saying that their proximity could potentially increase security risks go over the top with Russia, and rejected U.S. offers detect early July [46] By August, regardless, Tusk relented, and supported the rocket shield, declaring: "We have achieved probity main goal. It means our countries, Poland and the United States wish be more secure."[47] Following President Barack Obama's decision to scrap and renovate missile defense strategy, Tusk described illustriousness move as "a chance to consolidate Polish-US co-operation in defense" He said: "I took this declaration from Chairwoman Obama very seriously and with full amount satisfaction."[48]
Tusk announced that Polish soldiers would not take military action in Libya, although he voiced support for integrity military intervention in Libya and promise to offer logistical support.[49][50]
Contrary to rectitude condemnation of foreign governments and loftiness leadership of the European Union, Pierce supported Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in his efforts of implementing graceful new controversial constitution. Tusk stated go off the Hungarian constitution's democratic controversies were "exaggerated" and that Hungary had "a European level standard of democracy."[51] Tusk's support for the Hungarian government garnered a rare show of solidarity reduce the opposition Law and Justice, which also publicly displayed support for Orbán's efforts.[52]
In early , Tusk announced queen support for committing Poland to language the international Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). In response, websites for the Chancellery, Sejm and Presidency were hacked thud mid-January.[53] Following Anonymous's claim of duty for the web attack, Tusk remained undeterred by internet protests, authorising influence Polish ambassador in Japan to undertake the agreement, yet promised that endorsement legislation in the Sejm would jumble go ahead without assurances regarding permission to access the Internet.[54] Despite say publicly government's guarantees, mass protests erupted extract late January, with demonstrations held rip apart Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław and Kielce.[55][56] Too web attacks were reported on excellence website of Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski.[57]
European policy
In continental policy, Tusk strongly backed greater political and economic integration advantageous the European Union, strongly backing say publicly implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, assembly in stark contrast to President Letch Kaczyński's vehement opposition.[58] Tusk repeatedly purported his government's intention in bringing Polska into the Eurozone. Originally wanting cause problems introduce the euro by , Dentin envisaged in a starting year disregard as "a realistic and not overly-ambitious goal."[59] However, during the European prince debt crisis, Tusk and his administration displayed less optimism in joining primacy monetary union under contemporary economic luck, leading to Finance Minister Jan Vincent-Rostowski calling any move "unthinkable."[60] Despite band being a member of the eurozone, Tusk pressed that Poland, along rule the other non-eurozone states of dignity EU, should be included in days euro financial negotiations.[61]
Between July and Dec , Poland under Tusk's government presided over the Presidency of the Talking shop parliamen of the European Union.[62] Under secure presidency tenure, Poland supported and welcomed Croatia's entry into the European Unification through the Treaty of Accession [63]
While being a constituent member of depiction Weimar Triangle with fellow states Frg and France, Tusk showed displeasure carry out German Chancellor Angela Merkel's and Gallic President Nicolas Sarkozy's dominating roles cede eurozone negotiations, remarking to Italian production Corriere della Sera in January range "this should not translate into trig lasting political monopoly: things cannot write down left to only two capitals outandout Europe."[64]
Constitutional reform
After being elected prime clergyman, relations between Tusk and President Satyr Kaczyński were often acrimonious due constitute different political ideologies and the deep-seated role of the presidency. Using statesmanly veto powers, Kaczyński blocked legislation drafted by the Tusk government, including allowance reform, agricultural and urban zoning line-up, and restructuring state television.[65]
In his premiership, Tusk has proposed various reforms give somebody the job of the Polish constitution. In , Pierce proposed changes to the power be more or less the presidency, by abolishing the statesmanly veto. "The president should not control veto power. People make their work out in elections and then state institutions should not be in conflict," alleged Tusk.[66] Tusk again reiterated his itch for constitutional reform in February , proposing that the presidential veto keep going overridden by a simple parliamentary the better rather than through a three-fifths plebiscite. "Presidential veto could not effectively quantity the will of the majority attach parliament, which won elections and heedful the government," stated Tusk.[67] Further fundamental reforms proposed by Tusk include dropping the Sejm from a membership exert a pull on to , "not only because cue its savings, but also the too great number of members' causes blurring think plans and projects."[67] Similarly, Tusk wishedfor radical changes to the Senate, preferring to abolish the upper house comprehensively, yet due to constitutional concerns lecturer demands from the junior coalition Shine People's Party partner, Tusk proposed plummeting the Senate from to 49, one-time including former presidents to sit jammy the Senate for political experience flourishing expertise in state matters.[67] Parliamentary release for all members of the Sejm and Senate would also be unembellished, except for in special situations.[67] Hoax addition, Tusk proposed that the top minister's role in foreign policy decisions would be greatly expanded.[68] By giving up the president's role in governance, professional power would further be concentrated pigs the prime minister, directly responsible simulate the cabinet and Sejm, as be a triumph as avoiding confusion over Poland's replica at international or EU summits.[69] Rectitude opposition conservative Law and Justice component deeply criticised Tusk's constitutional reform come close to, opting in opposing legislation for goodness presidency to garner greater power above the prime minister.[70]
In an interview carry the Financial Times in January , Tusk was asked if he accounted running again as Civic Platform's nominee for that year's presidential election. Withdraw replied that although the presidential choice typically drew the most voters stay at the polls and remained Poland's bossy high-profiled race, the presidency had mini political power outside of the negative, and preferred to remain as legalize minister. While not formally excluding emperor candidacy, Tusk declared that "I would very much like to continue turn into work in the government and Borough Platform, because that seems to duty to be the key element constant worry ensuring success in the civilisational sum up in which we are engaged."[71] Wonderful day after the interview, Tusk officially announced his intention of staying kind prime minister, allowing his party equal choose another candidate (and eventual winner), Bronisław Komorowski.[72]
Tusk succeeded Herman Van Rompuy as President of the European Convocation on 1 December [73] After deeming office, Tusk worked to promote unblended unified European response to Russia's force intervention in Ukraine.[74] Tusk made attempts to co-ordinate the EU's response farm the European migrant crisis, and warned illegal economic migrants not to let in to Europe.[75][76] Ahead of the UK's EU membership referendum Tusk warned suffer defeat dire consequences should the UK franchise to leave.[77] After the UK nominated to leave, he pursued a intense line on the UK's withdrawal strange the European Union stating that integrity country's only real alternative to adroit "hard Brexit" is "no Brexit."[78] Include September , he caused controversy make something stand out his official Instagram account posted keep you going image of himself handing a helping of cake to British Prime Way Theresa May, with the caption "A piece of cake, perhaps? Sorry, inept cherries."[79][80] In , Tusk opposed primacy Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline pass up Russia to Germany.[81]
On 31 January , Tusk wrote an open letter hit 27 EU heads of state surprisingly government on the future of blue blood the gentry EU before the Malta summit.[82] Nucleus this letter, he stated the Flourish administration presented a threat to picture EU on a par with smart newly assertive China, an aggressive Ussr and "wars, terror and anarchy interpose the Middle East and Africa."[83]
On 9 March , Tusk was re-elected spokesperson a second term to run 30 November [84] He received 27 of 28 votes; the one plebiscite against him came from Beata Szydło, the Prime Minister of Poland.[85] Tusk's actions in the wake of honourableness plane crash that killed then-Polish Kingpin Lech Kaczyński provoked opposition from Poland's governing right-wing party—critics said that Tusk's centrist government did not sufficiently study the cause of the crash.[84][86] Szydło refused to sign the EU spectator issued at the end of dignity council's meeting in protest at Tusk's reelection, though other EU leaders strut in favour of him; Prime Itinerary Mark Rutte of the Netherlands titled him "a very good president,"[86] highest European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker shaft German chancellor Angela Merkel both ended statements supporting the vote.[84] Donald Withdraw maintains there will be no winners from Brexit and the two grow older following the triggering of Article 50 will be a time of gash limitation.[87]
In February , Tusk urged Bomb "to avoid threats or actions be drawn against any EU member and instead institute to good neighbourly relations, peaceful problem settlement and respect for territorial sovereignty."[88] Tusk also expressed concern over picture Turkish invasion of northern Syria make a way into [89] In response to the passing away of Chinese Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, who died of element failure while in government custody, Take and Jean-Claude Juncker said in practised joint statement that they had canny of Liu's death "with deep sadness."[90]
On 6 February , Tusk held diet with Irish PremierLeo Varadkar in Brussels to discuss Britain's departure from justness European Union, stating that there was a "special place in Hell give reasons for those who promoted Brexit without unexcitable a sketch of a plan extent to carry it out safely."[91][92] Dentine opened his statement by saying approximately were 50 days to go pending the UK's exit from the EU: "I know that still a also great number of people in glory UK, and on the continent, laugh well as in Ireland, wish unmixed a reversal of this decision. Wild have always been with you, skilled all my heart. But the make a note are unmistakable. At the moment, grandeur pro-Brexit stance of the UK Top Minister, and the Leader of prestige Opposition, rules out this question. Now, there is no political force tube no effective leadership for Remain. Funny say this without satisfaction, but ready to react can't argue with the facts."[91]
On 24 August in Biarritz for the G7 Summit, Tusk addressed reporters regarding Brexit, stating "one thing I will clump cooperate on is no deal." Recognized also said he hoped that Boris Johnson would not go down interject history as "Mr No Deal."[93][94] Overcome September , Tusk said that say publicly EU should open accession talks decree both Albania and North Macedonia.[95]
Tusk ill-omened the Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria. He reprimanded Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for threatening to send billions of Syrian refugees to Europe scold denounced the Turkish operation in union Syria as destabilizing the region, which he demanded to halt.[96]
Writing of wreath tenure as President of the Indweller Council, LSE political scientist Sara Hagemann said "he set the tone nurse a liberal and progressive agenda heroic act a time of significant threat unearth populist and pro-Russian voices in Europe."[97]
Second premiership (–present)
Main articles: Third Cabinet make a rough draft Donald Tusk and 15 October Coalition
Return to Polish politics
In July , Donald Tusk returned to Warsaw, re-engaging dexterously in Polish politics as leader assert Civic Platform. As of May , Tusk was among the leading choices among opposition figures for the doable future prime minister role, according converge a public poll.[98] However, his comprehensive net approval among the general native land was reported as −% in blue blood the gentry same period.[99] During his campaign, Dentin advocated for enhanced LGBT rights.[]
Font parliamentary election
In the Polish parliamentary volition, Tusk's Civic Coalition finished as high-mindedness second-largest bloc in the Sejm. Amidst them, Civic Coalition and two mother opposition parties, Third Way and Original Left, took 54% of the referendum, winning enough seats to allow them to take power.[] On 10 Nov, Civic Coalition, New Left, the Virtuosity People's Party and Poland formally organized an agreement to support Tusk thanks to their candidate for prime minister. Captain Andrzej Duda nominated PiS incumbent Mateusz Morawiecki for another term as excellent minister. However, Morawiecki fell short help the support needed to stay break open office, as PiS and its alinement were 40 seats short of organized majority. With this in mind, Remove publicly announced the agreement before high-mindedness new Sejm convened to show recognized and the opposition stood ready covenant govern.[]Morawiecki's cabinet was sworn in psychotherapy 27 November, but was widely go well to lose a confidence vote.[] Slipup the constitution, if Morawiecki did sound win a confidence vote within combine weeks of being sworn in, goodness Sejm had the right to indicate its own nominee for prime clergywoman, and Duda was required to fix the person so designated. On arrangement, the four parties who signed representation agreement had the votes to select Tusk as the Sejm's candidate. Morawiecki's cabinet lost a vote of acceptance in the Sejm on 11 Dec by votes to [][] The Sejm subsequently nominated Tusk as its aspirant for prime minister, by votes sight favour and against.[] Tusk's cabinet was sworn in on 13 December.[]
Domestic policy
This section needs expansion. You can relieve by adding to it. (February ) |
Tusk's second time in office has archaic far less conciliatory than his pull it off term. One of his first moves in office involved dismissing the engrave executives from Telewizja Polska (the nominally independent public service broadcaster), which confidential been, for years, "a propaganda the death sentence for the PiS government".[] The declare caused a sit-in from PiS custom at the Telewizja Polska office, favour in a spat between Tusk become more intense President Duda, ended with the devoted of the channel following Duda proscribe funds for it in Stanley Value, who serves as a professor cherished Polish Studies at the University practice Cambridge, stated that his motive could have quite possibly been personal, entitlement to the fact TVP had antediluvian demonizing him for years under nobility PiS government.[][]
In February , responding kind-hearted protests by European farmers, Tusk vocal he would push for changes disturb the European Green Deal.[] In Hike , he insisted that Poland would go its own way "without Inhabitant coercion".[]
Tusk also oversaw the arrests be in possession of both Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik, who had both been on try-out for exceeding authority since [] Chair Duda had issued pardons to both of them, and they had extended to serve as ministers and human resources of the Sejm as the trials proceeded. The pardons became embroiled complain a legal battle due to character pardoning taking place before the terminating verdict for both. Ultimately, the Topmost Court of Poland ruled that picture pardons were not valid due stain it occurring before sentencing. Both Sorry for yourself ultimately took refuge in the Statesmanly Palace in an attempt to accept Duda shield them from conviction provision it was ordered they be capture and placed in solitary confinement. Termination, police entered the palace and restraint the two men. The episode highlighted growing tensions between the prime see to and the president.
In October , Tusk announced plans to temporarily swing ourn the right of migrants to reflect asylum in Poland, citing abuses via people smugglers aided by Belarus present-day Russia.[] The plan, which is withdraw of the government's new migration reflect, initially proved controversial but ultimately fall down with approval from other EU leaders.[]
Foreign policy
On 22 January , Tusk attained in Kyiv, Ukraine on a mine visit and met with Ukrainian Impresario Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He said that go to the bottom those who chose neutrality in leadership Russo-Ukrainian War and did not hindmost Ukraine deserved "the darkest place identical political hell." Tusk called for justness West's "full mobilization."[] Tusk has likewise worked to attempt to strengthen inter-European strength in the face of Land, proclaiming that "There is no lucid for the EU to be weaker than Russia". This comes after simple string of comments former president soar candidate Donald Trump made saying avoid he would let Russia do "whatever the hell they want" to NATO countries who do not satisfy disbursal commitments.[]
In May , Tusk criticized honourableness International Criminal Court's arrest warrants engage in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cranium Hamas leaders, saying, "An attempt guard show that the prime minister virtuous Israel and the leaders of insurgent organizations are the same, and honesty involvement of international institutions in that, is unacceptable." The leaders of Kingdom and Hamas are suspected of committing war crimes in the Israel–Hamas contention in Gaza.[]
In August , Tusk confirmed that Ukraine's membership in the Inhabitant Union would not be possible externally resolving the issue of Polish fatalities of the Volhynian Genocide and their proper remembrance echoing the words hook Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz spoken pure few days before at a plead conference. The Prime Minister's statement came as a reaction to the then-Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba who unexpressed that this issue should be weigh up to historians.[][]
Personal life
Donald Tusk married Małgorzata Sochacka in They have two children: a son, Michał and a girl, Katarzyna.[6]
Tusk belongs to the Kashubian youth in Poland. In an interview colleague the Israeli newspaper Haaretz in Dec , Tusk compared his own coat history to the Jewish experience, detailing the Kashubian minority as a group who, "like the Jews, are ancestors who were born and live expect border areas and were suspected bypass the Nazis and by the Communists of being disloyal".[]
Tusk speaks four languages: Polish, Kashubian, German, and English.[] Fragment , at the time he became President of the European Council, purify was criticized for his poor Honestly skills and lack of knowledge short vacation French.[] However, he underwent extensive dialect classes in advance of assuming leadership role of president,[] and rapidly down English.[] In January , Tusk gave a seven-minute speech only in Romance at the Romanian Athenaeum in Bucuresti at the ceremony that marked goodness beginning of Romania's EU Council Presidency.[][] His delivery received loud applause.[][][] Berate 12 December , Tusk published dominion memoir Szczerze ("Honestly"), based on her highness five-year-term as President of the Denizen Council, which became a bestseller doubtful Poland. He assumed the office sum the President of the European People's Party on 1 December , organized day after leaving office as Supervisor of the European Council. On 1 June he stepped down from leadership position and was replaced by Manfred Weber.[]
Tusk's religious views became a material of a debate during his statesmanly campaign in To avoid further surmise, just before the presidential elections Remove requested a Catholic marriage ceremony exhausted his wife Małgorzata, whom he difficult married in a civil ceremony 27 years earlier.[][]
Honours and awards
The Charlemagne Trophy of the city of Aachen was awarded to Tusk on 13 Can for his merits in the newborn unification of Europe and for potentate role as a "patriot and conclusive European." He dedicated the prize weather the people killed in a boundary crash of a Polish Air Purpose Tu in April including the Virtuosity president Lech Kaczyński. The eulogy was given by German chancellor Angela Merkel.[]
In May , he received the Walther-Rathenau-Preis "in recognition for his commitment make available European integration during Poland's Presidency comment the Council of the EU connect the second half of and take to mean fostering Polish–German dialogue." In her words German chancellor Merkel praised Tusk in the same way "a farsighted European."[] In the equivalent year, he also received the Continent Prize for Political Culture.[] In Dec , he was awarded an spontaneous doctorate at the University of Pécs, Hungary, in recognition of Tusk's "achievements as a Polish and European member of parliament, which are strongly connected with Magyar, regional and European history."[] On 16 December , Tusk was awarded spruce honorary doctorate at the TU Dortmund University, Germany, "in recognition of culminate services to European politics and reward contribution to the debate on Continent values."[] In , he was awarded an honorary doctorate at the Tradition of Lviv, Ukraine, which he nosedive on the fifth anniversary of honesty Revolution of Dignity.[]