Vice Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski criticized President Andrzej Duda for his distracted behavior during a cabinet meeting, accusing him of prioritizing personal ambitions over the government’s agenda.
President with a Scattered Gaze
“The president seems stuck in a corner, setting specific goals and then steering the cabinet meeting beyond its formal scope. It’s like a constitutional ‘over-president’—in Poland, the government governs, and the president represents,” said Gawkowski, a political figure from Nowa Lechia, during a Thursday morning interview with TVN24. “The Cabinet Council is meant for serious discussions on critical issues, but yesterday, the president’s gaze was unfocused, flipping through documents like a narcissist unaware of the situation he himself created.”
President Learned Things He Didn’t Know
“I saw a man who’s lost and lacks awareness that today the government is truly governing, and the 18 months since PiS’s rise haven’t been wasted,” emphasized Gawkowski. “The prime minister highlighted key questions, sometimes even clarifying ingrained assumptions, showing our side’s knowledge and professionalism. The president must also understand that governing isn’t only about rhetoric—budget decisions and economic stability are central. Our current 150 billion zł deficit is a clear alarm signal that something is wrong. Why are we at the edge of budgetary capabilities? Because we’ve made decisions to radically expand Poland’s ambitious programs, even at the risk threshold,” replied Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Cabinet Meeting at the Presidential Palace
The Cabinet Council, a meeting of the government under the president’s chairmanship, took place at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday afternoon. The session was closed, but the president and premier initially addressed the open portion. “I am deeply concerned by this year’s budget data,” stated Karol Nawrocki. “Are these figures—like the 150 billion zł deficit—objective? It signals a problem. If we’re nearing budgetary limits, it’s because we’ve chosen to push forward with transformative projects, including infrastructure and CPK [a controversial infrastructure initiative]. Investments under the Ministry of Infrastructure have already risen by 100% in two years. Next year, nearly 100 billion zł will be allocated to infrastructure, including railways and airports.”
Source: Gazeta, https://next.gazeta.pl/next/7, https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/premier#anchorLink, https://www.tokfm.pl/Tokfm/7
