President Andrzej Duda did not take part in the official inauguration of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. – This is completely frivolous behavior. I think what he did most was to spite himself, said Katarzyna Piekarska from the Civic Coalition. – We should unite because Poland has enormous obligations and responsibility for the whole of Europe – emphasized Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrzej Szejna from the Left.
On Friday evening, the gala inaugurating the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union took place at the Grand Theater – National Opera. The president did not appear at the ceremony Andrzej Duda.
“After sending the invitation, there was no contact with the Chancellery of the Prime Minister or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this matter. It can be concluded that it was not an important event for the organizers,” said Małgorzata Paprocka, head of the Chancellery of the President.
READ ALSO: Inauguration of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council without Andrzej Duda
Marcin Przydacz z PIS When asked about the absence of President Andrzej Duda, he replied: – I am here at the invitation of the government and I will try to represent the Polish Sejm as best I can, of course within my modest capabilities. I don't know the reasons for the absence of other politicians, he said.
“What he did most was to spite himself”
– I'm sorry. I don't know why the president wasn't there. This is a celebration for all of us. We are taking over the presidency of the Council of the European Union. We have priorities that I think we all agree with, emphasized the mayor of Warsaw Rafał Trzaskowski.
Minister of Infrastructure Dariusz Klimczak from the Parliamentary Club Polish People's Party – Third Way said that “after two terms in office, he still doesn't have the experience to know where he needs to be and where he can give up.” – The president should know that you need to be at these types of events – he said.
– This is completely frivolous behavior. Unless you show solidarity with the ambassador Hungarian – said Katarzyna Piekarska from the Civic Coalition. – I think what he did most was to spite himself – she added.
Andrzej Duda did not take part in the inauguration of the Polish Presidency of the EU CouncilPaweł Supernak/PAP/EPA
“Like a child”
Katarzyna Lubnauer from the Civic Coalition said that “the president is like a child.” – If they don't let him manage something, he gets offended and doesn't come. Unfortunately, this is very sad – she said.
– We should unite because Poland has enormous obligations and responsibility for the whole of Europe. I would expect the president to be with us. If he is not there, let him explain himself to Poles – emphasized Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrzej Szejna from the Left.
Michał Szczerba, MEP of the Civic Coalition, said that he could not imagine “what President Duda could have more important to do today than participate in the official opening of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.”
In turn, MEP Krzysztof Brejza from the Civic Coalition wondered that the president “maybe went skiing.” – He likes skiing. He apparently decided that this was not a serious event and the situation was not so historically important for Poland that his presence would not be needed, he added.
Main photo source: Łukasz Gągulski/PAP