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WORLD NEWS Thursday 20 april 2017

EU’s Tusk questioned for hours in Polish investigation

MONIKA SCISLOWSKA fice.
Associated Press Tusk is not a suspect, but
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — only a witness in the inves-
European Council Presi- tigation. The alleged illegal
dent Donald Tusk spent activity took place dur-
more than eight hours be- ing his 2007-2014 tenure as
hind closed doors Wednes- prime minister.
day being questioned by Many see his questioning
Polish prosecutors, emerg- as part of a larger attempt
ing from the proceedings by Poland’s nationalist gov-
to say the case in which he ernment to discredit a po-
appeared as a witness is litical foe by linking him to
of a “highly political char- scandals.
acter.” Military prosecutors With backing for Tusk still
are investigating allega- strong in the country, he
tions of secret illegal con- could prove to be a seri-
tacts between Polish and ous rival to the ruling party
Russian intelligence officials in the 2019 parliamentary
during the period when election and in the 2020
Tusk was Poland’s prime presidential election.
minister. Former top intelli- Tusk’s lawyer, Roman Gi-
gence officials are suspects ertych, told private broad-
in the case. caster TVN24 that Tusk is
Tusk told reporters as he “treated by the current rul- European Council President Donald Tusk tells reporters the case in which he was questioned for
left the prosecutors’ office ing team as a serious politi- over eight hours as a witness in Warsaw, Poland, is of highly political character, Wednesday, April
in Warsaw that he can- cal threat, and for that rea- 19, 2017. The investigation deals with alleged secret illegal contacts between Polish and Russian
not give details about his son the case has a political intelligence officials at a time when Tusk was Poland’s prime minister from 2007-2014.
closed-door testimony, character.” Tusk said he (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
which is secret, but that he appeared for the question- Last month, Poland’s cur- Smolensk, Russia, that killed tion ran high. Tusk’s sup-
was treated hospitably to ing “out of respect for the rent government tried to Polish President Lech Kac- porters carried EU and na-
“tea, coffee and water.” Polish state.” But he said block his re-election to the zynski. tional flags and chanted,
“The whole case has a he also informed the pros- top EU-job, for motives root- An agitated crowd of both “Donald, we are with you!”
highly political character,” ecutors he would invoke his ed in the political rivalry. faithful supporters and an- Opponents hurled accusa-
Tusk said. diplomatic immunity as a Tusk also has been ac- gry opponents greeted him tions of crimes and of Tusk
Before speaking to report- top EU official, if he comes cused by Defense Minister when he arrived at War- having hurt Poland’s inter-
ers, he shook hands and to the conclusion that the Antoni Macierewicz of trea- saw’s main train station on ests. One detractor raised
gave autographs to a large proceedings are intended son in another matter, the Wednesday morning to tes- a large mock-up photo de-
group of people waiting to keep him from doing his handling of the aftermath tify. picting him in striped prison
outside the prosecutors’ of- current job. of the 2010 plane crash in Emotions at the train sta- garb.q
Turkey electoral board rejects request to annul referendum

ZEYNEP BILGINSOY main opposition party said constitutional court and of unstamped ballots. said the opposition had
Associated Press it would take the decision then to the European Court The Istanbul Bar Associa- the right to file objections,
ISTANBUL (AP) Turkey’s to Turkey’s top court. of Human Rights if neces- tion on Wednesday filed a but warned that calling for
electoral board on The High Electoral Board sary. “We will demand the criminal complaint against street protests was unac-
Wednesday rejected peti- announced in a written rights of the voters until the electoral board head Sadi ceptable. He said that “the
tions by opposition parties statement its decision by end,” he said. Opposition Guven for “wrongful con- path to seek rights” should
to annul the outcome of a 10-1 vote to reject three parties have complained of duct” and “altering the re- be limited to the courts.
the weekend’s referendum requests by the opposition. a series of irregularities, par- sult of the election.” “Calling people to the
on expanding presidential Mehmet Hadimi Yakupo- ticularly an electoral board A prosecutor will now con- street is wrong and is out-
powers because of voting glu, the main opposition decision to accept ballots sider whether to press side the line of legitimacy,”
irregularities. The decision Republican People’s Par- without official stamps, as charges against Guven. Yildirim said, adding, “we
led protesters in Istanbul to ty’s representative at the required by Turkish law. The Before the electoral expect the main opposition
call for the resignation of board, said they would board, however, published board’s announcement, party’s leader to act more
board members while the take the decision to the past rulings on the validity Prime Minister Binali Yildirim responsibly.”q