Poland’s president in treaty tirade

Poland’s efforts to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon were thrown into further turmoil following President Lech Kaczynski’s hard-hitting anti-German and anti-gay address to the nation 17 March 2008 which warned of the dangers posed by the pact.

Polish PM Donald Tusk said a referendum may be necessary on the Treaty because of the dispute with the opposition and President Kaczynski. The president and his twin brother, Jaroslaw, helped negotiate the accord in the autumn of 2007, but were now threatening to torpedo it, saying it could harm Polish interests.

BBC News, 18.3.08: Poland could face EU treaty vote http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7303045.stm

International Herald Tribune, 18.3.08: Poland's PM vows to overcome opposition to ratification of new EU treaty http://www.iht.com/bin/printfriendly.php?id=11224340

Poland: Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the Deputies’ Proposal of the Act on the Ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, 17 March 2008 http://www.msz.gov.pl/Position,of,the,Ministry,of,Foreign,Affairs,regarding,the,Deputies’,Proposal,of,the,Act,on,the,Ratification,of,the,Lisbon,Treaty,15901.html

---