Poland's PM warns President over obstruction, urges cooperation on energy bill
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said he is open to cooperation with President Karol Nawrocki but warned that any attempts to obstruct the government’s work would be met with a firm response.
"Wherever the new President wants to help, I will welcome him with open arms," Prime Minister Tusk said on Thursday in the southern town of Mecina.
"Wherever he intends to obstruct, he will come to understand the meaning of constitutional rule - namely, who governs in the country. I will be consistent in this regard and, if necessary, ruthless," he added.
Asked about the composition of Nawrocki's presidential office, Tusk said he had not formed an opinion yet, but expected it would not be enthusiastic once he became familiar with it.
Nawrocki was sworn in on Wednesday before the National Assembly, formally taking office as President of Poland.
Tusk also commented on speculation that the President may veto the so-called wind farm bill, which includes an extension of the electricity price freeze for households.
Zbigniew Bogucki, Nawrocki's incoming chief of staff, said earlier on Thursday that the bill was "an inept trap" and raised concerns about its constitutionality and legislative process.
Reacting to the remarks, Tusk said he was shocked by the suggestion and added that the bill was designed to support the most affordable energy sources, particularly onshore wind farms.
"Whether people like it or not, wind turbines on land offer the cheapest electricity today," he said.
Referring to Nawrocki's earlier promise to lower electricity prices by a third within three months, Tusk said: "If the President thinks electricity prices drop because of declarations or resolutions, then he is mistaken."
Tusk explained that prices can fall either through government subsidies, as included in the bill, or by expanding access to cheap energy sources, which is also addressed in the legislation.
"If the President wants to start his term with vetoes, similar to President Duda's approach, which ultimately concluded in that manner, it will reflect very poorly on him," Poland's Prime Minister assessed.
He added that the government would continue seeking ways to protect households from rising energy costs regardless of the President's actions.
"But I would prefer, Mr President, that you assist in such obvious matters, than obstruct them," Tusk said.
The wind farm bill proposes to reduce the minimum distance between wind turbines and residential buildings from 700 to 500 metres, reversing the restrictive 10H rule introduced in 2016. It also extends the household electricity price freeze at PLN 500.00 (EUR 117.30) per MWh net until the fourth quarter of 2025.
Energy minister Milosz Motyka said that if the bill was vetoed, the government might introduce a separate bill focused solely on the price freeze. He also noted that recalculated electricity tariffs, expected to be lower than before, would guide the scope of future price caps.
mj/ jch/ ao/