Political parties in Poland

Donald Tusk's term as president of the European Council will end on 30 November, which is perfect timing for the Polish opposition.

After the parliamentary election in late October, Poland will hold its presidential election in April 2020, and opposition voters already see Tusk as the only viable candidate.

"If you count the total number of PiS voters, there might not be that many but they do show up to vote," said Bartek Lech, an independent EU affairs analyst in Szczecin, northwest Poland.

The opposition's strategy, he said, "is not to take votes away from PiS - this is almost impossible. It is to mobilise the undecided and those who otherwise would not vote."

Donald Tusk warned on Monday that the bitter feud between Warsaw and Brussels over the rule of law could lead to Poland stumbling out of the EU by accident.

Polish President Andrzej Duda has likened Poland's membership of the European Union to the successive occupations of the country by Russia, Austria and Prussia.

His nation which joined the EU in 2004, is the top beneficiary of funds from Brussels, netting some €10 billion a year (£8.8 billion).

The European Union has triggered Article 7 against Poland, a procedure that could result in sanctions targeting Warsaw, PAP news agency reports. The EU says Poland has violated democratic values with proposed judiciary reform.

The European Union's executive body use Article 7 of the EU treaty what is called a "nuclear option" against Poland on Wednesday.

Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło has posted a tweet in which it seems that she is saying goodbye, the Associated Press reports, adding that there are rumors in the country that she could be replaced.

Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has stepped up its anti-German rhetoric by declaring Warsaw has a right to billions of dollars in reparations for destruction inflicted by the Nazis in World War II, reported Politico. 

Polish President Andrzej Duda has announced he is vetoing a controversial law to replace Supreme Court judges with government nominees, according to BBC.

Three key judicial reforms have been passed by Poland's parliament, prompting days of demonstrations across the country.

Before they became law, they required approval by the president.