Tusk: today PiS government crashed against the wall

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki repeatedly came under criticism during a tense debate in the European Parliament on Tuesday, with the EU's chief executive warning Warsaw that its challenge to the supremacy of the 27-nation bloc's law would not go unpunished.

"You're arguments are not getting better. You're just escaping the debate," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, visibly exasperated with Poland's Mateusz Morawiecki after more than four hours of back-and-forth. Von der Leyen said a ruling by Poland's Constitutional Tribunal last week that parts of European Union law are incompatible with the Polish constitution was "a direct challenge to the unity of the European legal order". She laid out three options for a response to the Polish court's attack on the primacy of EU law, ranging from legal action to a cut in funding and suspension of voting rights.

Poland's former prime minister and current leader of opposition Civic Platform party, Donald Tusk, said at a press conference in the Sejm on Tuesday that he was sorry to see Poland in the spotlight, but not as an example of an ambitious nation or a state which achieved success thanks to European intergration.

"Today, we've witnessed the PiS government crash against the wall. Probably none of the arguments presented in the debate by PiS government representatives convinced both the political factions and the EU member states," Tusk said.

"This debate proved clearly that solidarity between Polish people, a majority of Poles, and between Poland and Europe is a fact. Also that almost everyone in Europe noticed that the PiS government does not reflect the will of majority of Poles when it comes to the rule of law. To me, this is a fundamental issue," Civic Platform leader said.

Donald Tusk also argued that there was no such thing as a conflict between Europe and Poland, or between Polish constitution and EU treaties. "No. There is an obvious conflict between PiS's political interests and Poland, the Polish people, and our national interest, as well as between the PiS government and Europe, European treaties. Actually, this debate exposed it with full force," he stressed.

He also said he was happy to hear PiS declaring that Poland would remain in the European Union. He added, however, that it would be so not thanks to PiS, but rather because of "the will of the Poles and their determination".

"This was a debate on whether the PiS government is capable of moving one step closer to a dialogue with the Poles and Europe, in order to unlock funds for Poland," Tusk argued.

Tusk added that although this government could not be replaced yet, the destruction of the rule of law and Poland's justice system could be at least partially contained.

"That pressure at least led to the first step, which was resignation from the Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme Court. Only under the weight of questions did PM Morawiecki admit that indeed they were ready to back out of this project," said former European Council chief.

"I don't believe in their good intentions, but I'm sure they are aware it is a necessary condition to be able to receive (EU) money," he explained.