Tusk replies Duda: for me this "rule of law terror" is one of the fundamental rules

Prime Minister Donald Tusk met on Monday with President Andrzej Duda to discuss key aspects of Poland's foreign policy as well as the latest developments regarding the ongoing reform of the country's judiciary.

"I said that, for me, this "rule of law terror" - as the president put it - is one of the most important rules. Everyone, with no exceptions, be it former minister, MP, pensioner, or high school student, every citizen should come under the same legal rigors. It's not politicians, but the courts and the law should decide who is guilty," he said at a press conference after the meeting.

He added, however, that he did not believe he would be able to convince the president to his point of view. "I was under the impression we held to our opinions, views regarding the rule of law."

Tusk also informed he had told the president that he "can't imagine lack of cooperation in two obvious matters". "Those are Poland's external security, that is foreign policy, including the war situation in Ukraine as well as internal security," he explained.

President Duda condemned the dismissal of the state prosector on Monday, escalating a conflict between the head of state and the new government as it moves to deliver on an election pledge to restore rule of law and unlock EU funds.

"The dismissal of the state prosecutor may only take place after consultation between the prime minister and the president... it requires the president's written consent," Duda told reporters after meeting with Tusk.

Justice Minister Adam Bodnar on Friday announced on Friday (Jan. 12) that Dariusz Barski had been illegitimately appointed to the position of state prosector under the previous nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) government.

Bodnar has been tasked with unpicking policies of PiS which critics say increased political influence over the judicial system.

"There is only one Prosecutor General and his name is Adam Bodnar and he is the minister of justice," the prime minister said at the briefing.

"I would like to convince you to seriously reflect on the initiative that Minister Bodnar (Polish Justice Minister Adam Bodnar) is about to propose and I will give him full support in it and I hope Mr President will also support us in it, which is the initiative to propose a bill which will separate the function of Prosecutor General from the political minister of justice," he underscored.

Tusk stressed he would very much like "for the president and the opposition to work together with us on the bill that will make the Polish prosecutor's office independent from the politicians".

"Maybe it will sound a bit brutal, but it is in the opposition's interests and it is in the president's interests to make Poland's prosecutor's office and Polish judicial system independent from the government and the politicians. I don't have to explain why the opposition should be first of all interested in full independence of courts and prosecutor's office."

"As we discussed with Mr President, all decisions, including those regarding the prosecutor's office, should go through legal verification if there is a dispute over it. If anyone thinks that Mr Bodnar's decisions are not legally binding, one has the full possibility to make one's case in court," the PM said.