MEP Róża Thun leaves Civic Platform over policy disagreements

In a statement published on social media on Monday, addressed to her voters, MEP Róża Thun confirmed she has submitted her resignation from being a member of the Civic Platform party.

Thun explained that her and party board opinions differed "categorically" over taking in refugees and providing them with legal and humanitarian support.

Among other issues leading to Thun's departure from the the Civic Platform was a vote over launching Art. 7 procedure against the Polish government, for which a photo of her and other MEPs were hanged on symbolic gallows. "Prosecutor's office even today says that nothing bad happened" - Thun pointed out.

She also said that in a vote regarding reduction of carbon dioxide emissions in the EU by 2030, she had voted for 60 percent, while her party for 55 percent.

"I often disagree with (Civic) Platform's decisions in voting over issues of hunting, farming policy, forests protection, fisheries policy etc. I'm a noncomformist when it comes to safeguarding the rule of law, and a tougher stance on environment protection" - Thun explained.

Thun also explained that the abstention of the majority of Civic Platform lawmakers in the vote over ratification of European Council Own Resources Decision was the last straw for her.

"I'm against poorly-coordinated bargaining between parties affecting projects aimed at supporting hundreds of millions European citizens in crisis, including those in Poland, and at the cost of strengthening of the whole Community" - she declared.

The MEP stressed that "in many more situations" there had been no "serious debate, attempt to pave a way to common and firm stance".

"Experience, conscience and voters' opinions have always been more important to me than party discipline. I intend to keep it this way" - she reassured.

Civic Platform chairman Borys Budka was asked about Róża Thun's departure on Monday. "It's sad because I personally respect her very much, shame" - he said.

"I will always have good opinion on MEP Róża Thun. I trust that, as usual, she will support the European People's Party in the EU Parliament, and can only regret that she has made such a decision" - Budka added.

Last week the party announced that two lawmakers were removed from Civic Platform for "acting to the detriment of the party". Paweł Zalewski and Ireneusz Raś, said they were surprised by the decision, and that they weren't offered any chance to defend themselves.

On Monday the two lawmakers announced they will ask a peer court to examine their case.