Tusk on the Sudden Weimar Triangle Summit and Massive Ambassadorial Shake-up; Duda Announces Veto for 'Morning-After' Pill and Opposition to Abortion Referendum [NIGHTLY SUMMARY]

13/03/2024

08:25

Michał Lubowicki

Tusk: It Was Unequivocally Confirmed That America Will Never Hesitate to Come to Poland's Aid
- What was important to me, and in a sense was the main goal of my visit, was the unequivocal confirmation that America will never hesitate to come to Poland's aid if Poland is ever attacked, and that Article 5 of the Washington Treaty is unshakeable, and that Americans feel absolutely obliged to act immediately should we need such assistance. I hope there will be no need for it - Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in an interview with Joanna Dunikowska-Paź on TVP Info.

Unscheduled Weimar Triangle Summit on Friday
- President Biden said he remains optimistic and believes, and counts on, this aid being unblocked. I spoke with President Biden about how we are mobilizing our colleagues in Europe. On Friday, which is very soon, there will be a sudden, unscheduled Weimar Triangle summit. I will be in Berlin with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to discuss this situation; they are also awaiting my information from the talks here in Washington - announced the head of the Polish government.

- The situation is difficult, we all know that. There's no point denying it. However, this confirmation from the American side that they truly take NATO and their commitments seriously is something important. [...] This triangle - Paris, Berlin, and Warsaw - will be looked at more and more. These three capitals, in my opinion, currently have the task and the power to mobilize all of Europe. But let's be optimistic. I have no reason not to believe President Biden when he says: 'wait, I think we'll find a solution and this aid will flow' - he continued.

Prime Minister Announces "Massive Ambassadorial Shake-up" and Steps in Case of Presidential Disagreement, but Positively Assesses Magierowski's Work
- We are currently in the midst of quite a serious operation. After the President rather resigned from cooperation, or at least that's how his associates presented it, and there was a lot of information on this subject in the media, Minister Sikorski and I decided to ask the President for consent for changes at most embassies - informed the Prime Minister.

- I will not provide specific names. In any case, a very massive change awaits us at the embassies. If there is no other option, we will of course recall ambassadors to the country, and until the President's position changes or a new president is elected, the embassies will be headed by diplomats acting as chargé d'affaires. If such a solution satisfies the President - so be it. In any case, we must streamline and build a team loyal to the Polish state that will conduct our affairs, the affairs of the Polish state, at all embassies - he continued.

- This is not revenge; many ladies and gentlemen ambassadors certainly deserve to continue their work. Ambassador Magierowski was never my fan, but I have a fairly high assessment of his work here in Washington - he noted.

President: Our Visit Shows the Importance of Relations with Poland for the USA. We Were Invited as an Important Ally within NATO
- We were invited on the 25th anniversary of Poland's accession to NATO as the only country invited. And yet, more countries were admitted at that time. This shows today the importance of relations with us for the United States, this alliance relationship. If someone asks me: and Poland's security in this context? Please look at who was invited. We were invited. As precisely an important partner, an important ally within the North Atlantic Alliance - said President Andrzej Duda in an interview with Marcin Wrona on TVN24.

Duda on Meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives: I Told Him It's Enough to Give Ukraine Equipment and Money Today, It's a Low Price
- I am the President of the Republic of Poland and today I spoke about Polish interests and the Polish perspective on security issues. It is in our interest today that Russia be stopped in Ukraine, that Russian imperialism be stopped and, if possible, punished in Ukraine. [...] So that Russian tanks do not engulf Ukraine, so that they do not reach our border, and so that the Russian aggression is repelled there in Ukraine. I said: this is also in the interest of the United States - the President said about the meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

- Because whenever there has been a major war in Europe - and Russian imperialism threatens a major war in Europe - sooner or later American soldiers have had to enter the fight, and hundreds of thousands of graves of American soldiers, sons and fathers of families, are in Western Europe today after the First and Second World Wars. It's enough to give equipment and money today, it's a low price. I told the Speaker today: it's a low price because it's incomparable to the lives of soldiers - he conveyed.

Duda on the 'Morning-After' Pill: I Will Not Sign a Law That Introduces Unhealthy, Sick, and Dangerous Principles for Children
- I have nothing against this pill [the 'morning-after' pill] existing, because it is on the Polish market and is available on reasonable terms. It is available by prescription, its availability - completely free, without a prescription - for minors is, in my opinion, a far-reaching exaggeration. We blocked the possibility of free access to tanning beds for youth under 18, we blocked access to energy drinks - said Duda.

- I have nothing against it, if such is the decision of the family or parent, that such a minor girl, if necessary, takes it, but let it happen with the consent of the parent, mother, father. [...] I will not sign a law that introduces unhealthy, sick, and dangerous principles for children - he declared.

"If Someone Demands Abortion, They Demand the Right to Kill. There Should Be No Referendum on Matters of Life and Death"
- Today, the law allows for the possibility of terminating a pregnancy, i.e., depriving a child of life in the womb, in a situation where there would be a threat to the woman's life. If such a choice were made, it is permissible, so from this point of view, the safety of the woman's life is secured - said the President of the Republic of Poland.

- My view on abortion is known. I am a person who defends life. For me, abortion is the deprivation of the life of a small human being who is in the mother's womb. If someone demands abortion, for me they demand the right to kill. [...] There should be no referendum on matters of life and death - he stated.

Michał Lubowicki

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POLITICAL STATE OF PLAY: Newsweek: Tusk is a Brake on Żurek, 57% Negative Approval for Prime Minister in PAP Poll, Dudek on Deficit: Only Romania is Worse, GW on the PSL's Web