Prime Ministers of Poland

Politicians from Poland's governing coalition have fallen back on the typical anti-German tropes to justify the veto.

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But as Poland confirmed 150 cases of the virus on Monday morning, Health Minister Lukasz Szumowski said, "We must expect a four-digit number of people infected with coronavirus this week." 

The so-called Rywin affair — named after top film producer Lew Rywin, who was accused of arranging a $17.5 million bribe to influence a new media law, allegedly on behalf of the then prime minister's closest circle — ultimately toppled the government and sent Rywin to prison.

Examples are legion. When Der Spiegel reported that the far-right Alternative for Deutschland had misappropriated funds, the party's supporters could not have cared less.

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.

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.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel traveled to Warsaw on Monday for talks with Polish leaders aimed at improving relations which have been strained by disagreements on rule of law, immigration and refugee policy, and Poland's new Holocaust law, as well as a new gas pipeline.

Poland will not make any concessions in its dispute with the European Union over the country's judicial reforms, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the head of the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, said on Friday, quoted by Reuters.