On the eve of the European Union’s 60th birthday, Donald Tusk was re-elected to a second two and a half year term as the European Council President almost unanimously, with the exception of Poland, his home country. Tusk is a former Prime Minister of Poland.
Tusk, known for his cool-headed response to news of the Brexit vote, will lead the European Union during the upcoming Brexit negotiations with Britain and also the tense debates on migration.
“We know now that [the EU] is a union under Berlin’s diktat,” the Polish foreign minister, Witold Waszczykowski, said. Poland’s prime minister promised retaliation, which will likely deepen the rift between Poland and other EU nations.
Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of the Eurosceptic Law and Justice Party said Tusk’s appointment showed the EU was dominated by Germany, while his supporters called Tusk “the German candidate.” A German speaker, Tusk has good relations with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Tusk acknowledged the “unusual circumstances” of his reappointment but promised to work with all EU leaders “without exceptions because I am truly devoted to a united Europe.”
EU leaders were meeting for the first time in the Europa building, a new €321m summit venue in Brussels, decorated with multicolored ceilings and carpets intended to symbolize the “united patchwork” of Europe.
The European Union is a collaborative effort to resurrect the Holy Roman Empire in modern times. Tusk, a Roman Catholic understands the interests of the church in restoring her power over Europe.
“God’s word has given warning of the impending danger; let this be unheeded, and the Protestant world will learn what the purposes of Rome really are, only when it is too late to escape the snare. She is silently growing into power. Her doctrines are exerting their influence in legislative halls, in the churches, and in the hearts of men. She is piling up her lofty and massive structures in the secret recesses of which her former persecutions will be repeated. Stealthily and unsuspectedly she is strengthening her forces to further her own ends when the time shall come for her to strike. All that she desires is vantage ground, and this is already being given her. We shall soon see and shall feel what the purpose of the Roman element is. Whoever shall believe and obey the word of God will thereby incur reproach and persecution.” The Great Controversy, page 581.