A 'farcical' decision by the European Commission to pull the plug on its six-year dispute over the rule of law Poland arises purely from the bloc's cozy relationship with the prime minister Donald Tuskcontrary to the changes he has introduced, a leading critic has argued.
The European UnionThe country's executive branch, led by President Ursula von der Leyen, yesterday scrapped the Article 7 procedure, saying Mr Tusk had initiated the necessary changes to address what the bloc called the perceived backsliding from the democratic principles of the previous government mentioned, to be undone.
However, the announcement was mocked by Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Poland's former foreign minister, who suggested that nothing had actually changed, except for his country's prime minister, who was appointed head of a Eurocentric coalition after last year's general election .
A former president of the European Council, Mr Tusk is an EU insider who controversially met Ms von der Leyen in Brussels before his return as prime minister was confirmed.
Mr Mularczyk, MP for the United Poland party, told Express.co.uk: “Today the farcical Article 7 rule of law proceedings against Poland have ended.
“Donald Tusk has not made any changes, but magically the EC now sees no problem with the rule of law in Poland.”
He continued: “Everyone in Poland, the EU and the world can see that all Von der Leyen and the EU elites needed and wanted in Poland was a change of government, and the support they gave Donald Tusk, through the Article 7 procedure and withholding of National Recovery Funds helped remove Law and Justice from power.
“Poles will draw their own conclusions about a deal between Tusk and von der Leyen and will be disgusted, but not surprised, that the EU leadership would involve itself in such scandalous political games and help depose governments that they do not to be allowed to.”
Mr Mularczyk concluded: “It is now essential and clear that Poland and all EU citizens vote for ECR candidates to ensure equality in the EU Parliament in the upcoming elections.”
The EU's decision to withdraw its case over rule of law complaints follows a decision in February to release billions of euros it had frozen in the dispute.
Ms von der Leyen said: “Today marks a new chapter for Poland.
“The continued restoration of the rule of law in Poland is great for the Polish people and for our union as a whole.”
The EU and Poland fell out after the nationalist Law and Justice party came to power in 2015 and introduced reforms that critics say put Poland's judiciary under political control.
The EU threatened to suspend Poland's voting rights in the EU and blocked Poland's access to EU funds.
Since taking office in December, Mr Tusk has pushed for the measures to be reversed.
Yesterday's decision still needs to be ratified by the 27 EU member states, but is unlikely to raise any fundamental objections.
Poland's pro-European coalition of three centre-left parties led by Mr Tusk won parliamentary elections on October 15, succeeding the Law and Justice party which had also pushed through changes in reproductive rights and the media that had put Poland at odds with the EU.