Warsaw may not back Tusk for new term as EU president: report
The head of Poland's governing rightwing Law and Justice party (PiS) said in an interview Tuesday the government may not back his sworn enemy Donald Tusk for a potential new term as EU president.
The men had long been political foes, but PiS boss Jaroslaw Kaczynski also blames the former Polish government headed by Tusk for the plane crash that killed his twin brother in 2010.
"I don't imagine the government will back Donald Tusk for a second term in the European Council," Kaczysnki said in interview with the Polska The Times newspaper.
Although he holds no government office, PiS party leader Kaczynski is widely regarded as the real powerbroker of Prime Minister Beata Szydlo's administration.
"There are investigations underway, in the parliament and from prosecutors, that might result in charges (against Tusk)", Kaczynski added.
"Is this the sort of person who should remain at the head of the European Council? I have major doubts."
Tusk, whose term ends in May 2017, quickly retorted on Twitter with a challenge to a debate.
"So, perhaps a debate Mr Chairman? On Europe, on Poland, on your allegations. I am at your disposal," he wrote.
Already Kaczysnki's biggest political adversary, Tusk became personal enemy number one after the 2010 jet crash in Russia that killed 96 people including his twin brother, then Polish president Lech Kaczynski.
The surviving Kaczynski accuses Tusk's government of being responsible for the crash, at least morally.
When the PiS -- which supports the theory the plane was brought down in an attack -- took power in October 2015 it re-opened the inquiry into the causes of the disaster.
Kaczynski has long said that he believes foul play caused the crash. Polish and Russian investigators have never found any evidence to support the claim.
Szydlo did not contradict Kaczynski's statement on a second term for Tusk when she spoke at a press conference, saying she also "imagined" the government would withhold backing from him.
Tusk took office as the head of the European Council, which groups the 28 EU leaders, in December 2014 for a 30-month term. It can be extended for a total of five years in power.