The Polish government has selected Piotr Serafin, the head of Poland's Permanent Representation to the EU, as their candidate for an EU commissioner position, according to Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Tuesday. Tusk is aiming for the EU budget commissioner role. Poland is looking to increase its influence in Brussels under Tusk's pro-European administration, which took office last December following eight years of nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) governance characterized by frequent clashes with the EU regarding democratic norms.
Tusk stated, "The most probable (portfolio) lies with the Commission president... but it appears highly probable that the Polish commissioner will secure a significant portfolio, specifically the European budget." He also mentioned that he would discuss the government's proposal with President Andrzej Duda this week. Serafin is one of Tusk's longtime collaborators, having served as the head of his cabinet when Tusk was the president of the European Council.
