Comments on: Poland airing its dirty laundry in public

By: Vitaliy

Vitaliy — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 15:44:08 +0000

I don’t think it was the Foreign Minister (Sikorski) who couldn’t go. If I’m not mistaken, it was the Finance Minister. Sikorski was involved in this, in the sense, that he criticized Kaczynski for going and thereby depriving the Polish delegation of a competent representative in Brussels on the financial issues.

By: ValÃ©ry

ValÃ©ry — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 09:18:18 +0000

Although I believe that Kaczynski behaved in a shameful manner, I believe that the Council might adopt a possibility to soften its rule of procedure. By limiting to two people the number of seated persons, it gave the Polish president a small victory by forcing the foreign affairs minister out. This kind of person deserves no victory.

By: Igor Guerra

Igor Guerra — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:45:38 +0000

@Jon: Well, but Berlusconi was President in Office of the European Council, that means it was also partly Eu vs Eu.

Maybe your comment about Her Majesty show the solution to the Lisbon Treaty impasse. Instead of having a semi-permanent President of the Council, why don’t we just have an emperor?

By: Vitaliy

Vitaliy — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:40:06 +0000

I think most Poles see this, but cannot do much about it until the next election. While Kaczynski enjoys support from the older, rural voters, younger and more educated Poles resent the bad rap Kaczynski is inflicting to Poland’s reputation (hence Tusk’s election).

By: Jon

Jon — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:10:40 +0000

@Igor – at least Prodi and Berlusconi were not in the same administration! That was – partly – Italy vs. the EU. Yesterday’s antics are Poland vs. Poland.

By: Jon

Jon — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:04:40 +0000

For whatever her faults Queen Elizabeth at least understands decorum! And I say that as a vehement anti-monarchist…

By: Child of Europe

Child of Europe — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:01:29 +0000

Fighting over who gets to sit in the chair when the music stops is fine for Musical Chairs at primary school parties – but not for the EU Summit…

Absolutely unacceptable…

And just to go into a tad of hyperbole – Does this now set a precedent for the EU Summit, or is this a special case like Kosovo? Can we expect to need to double the chairs? Perhaps the Queen of England wants to join in…

By: Julien Frisch

Julien Frisch — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:41:36 +0000

Like little kids, totally unprofessional and not at all helpful for the work of the European Union.

The Kaczynskis have brought nothing but stupidity into the work of the EU during the last years.