Europe

Poland questions legality of Tusk's EU re-election

Associated Press
Published | Updated

European Council President Donald Tusk signs a declaration during an EU summit meeting at the Orazi and Curiazi Hall in the Palazzo dei Conservatori in Rome on Saturday, March 25, 2017. European Union leaders were gathering in Rome to mark the 60th anniversary of their founding treaty and chart a way ahead following the decision of Britain to leave the 28-nation bloc. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) (The Associated Press)

European Council President Donald Tusk speaks to EU leaders during an EU summit meeting at the Orazi and Curiazi Hall in the Palazzo dei Conservatori in Rome on Saturday, March 25, 2017. European Union leaders were gathering in Rome to mark the 60th anniversary of their founding treaty and chart a way ahead following the decision of Britain to leave the 28-nation bloc. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) (The Associated Press)

From left, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, European Council President Donald Tusk and Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, right, applaud after Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, center, delivered the opening address during an EU summit meeting at the Orazi and Curiazi Hall in the Palazzo dei Conservatori in Rome on Saturday, March 25, 2017. European Union leaders were gathering in Rome to mark the 60th anniversary of their founding treaty and chart a way ahead following the decision of Britain to leave the 28-nation bloc. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) (The Associated Press)

Poland's foreign minister has challenged the legality of Donald Tusk's re-election to a top European Union job, saying the vote was "fake" and that it exposed the EU as having "double standards."

Tusk, a former Polish prime minister, was re-elected as European Council head at a recent EU summit.

Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said the summit took a "pseudo-vote" on Tusk, by only asking who was "against," but not who was "for" or who abstained. Waszczykowski told TVN24 that there was no vote on Poland's counter-candidate.

Poland was the only one among the EU's 28 members to protest the re-election of Tusk, who Poland's ruling nationalist Law and Justice party considers a political foe. The party also is critical of the EU.