Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused Russia on Tuesday of trying to fuel instability in Poland by exploiting the dispute between the government and President Karol Nawrocki over the Constitutional Tribunal.
Tensions between nationalist President Karol Nawrocki and Tusk’s pro-European government have escalated following a dispute over the appointment of judges to the Constitutional Tribunal.
The conflict escalated over the weekend after the court’s president, an ally of the nationalist camp that backed Nawrocki, was suspended. The decision sparked protests outside the courthouse.
Against this backdrop, several Russian politicians, including Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, described the Polish government’s measures as a “coup d’état.”
Donald Tusk said that Moscow and pro-Russian politicians were trying to exploit internal divisions to fuel tensions and a sense of instability. The prime minister also referred to alleged Russian interference in political debates in the United States, including in the context of the midterm elections, Reuters reports.
“We are seeing Russia and pro-Russian politicians—both internationally and at home—focus their efforts on our cause: defending the Constitutional Tribunal against the aggressive conduct of politicians and the demonstrators they incite. We all know Russia’s method of meddling in internal conflicts. Today, we are witnessing tensions stirred up by the Russians, whether in connection with the midterm elections in the United States or by fostering a sense of instability in Poland, fuelled by the aggressive conduct of opposition politicians and the president,” Tusk said at a cabinet meeting.
Despite their fierce political rivalry, both Tusk and Nawrocki are critical of Russia, particularly over its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Both support increased defense spending, citing threats to the security of Poland and Europe.