On Oct 17, Polish leader Donald Tusk revealed in a podcast he cannot forgive Jarosław Kaczyński, saying the former’s actions “hurt” him.
Tusk Discusses Relationship with Kaczyński
Donald Tusk stated that he and Jarosław Kaczyński were not friends but had a “quite good” relationship during the Solidarity era. He added that he had closer ties with Kaczyński’s brother, Lech, though it was not a close friendship.
Tusk accused Kaczyński of being responsible for “the entire political evil” that has spread across Poland.
“It Hurts Me” — Personal Anger Shown
During the interview, Tusk declared that the emotional damage caused by Kaczyński’s actions “hurts” him. He described the negative emotions as a response to the political turmoil that has become far more dangerous than in many neighboring countries.
He rejected claims that he was blaming the citizens, stressing that he is only highlighting the depth of the harm inflicted.
Recounting the 2005 Kurski Affair
Tusk reminded listeners that the 20th anniversary of the so‑called “Kurski lie” was recently observed. He explained that then-Jacek Kurski claimed that Donald Tusk’s grandfather had enlisted in the Wehrmacht during interviews, a statement that was then rejected by Lech Kaczyński’s team.
After the lie was exposed, Tusk said it became a catalyst for the sharpening of Poland’s political conflict.
Explaining 31 % Vote Share and the 100‑Day Promises
Tusk visited residents in Piotrków Trybunalski, summarizing his government’s two‑year record. He admitted that not all promises from the “100 concrete actions” list were fulfilled.
He explained that he received 31 % of the vote, meaning that he and his party accomplished roughly a third of the pledged actions, a “fair calculation.”
Meeting with Piotrków Residents
In his speech, Tusk accepted political responsibility for the coalition’s difficulties, including losing the presidential election.
He urged voters to view his reflection on the 31 % vote cast on October 15 as a honest assessment of the outcome.
