Poland's judicial appointments fight escalates as Belgian PM offers resignation
Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government in Poland is pushing to undo judicial appointments made under its predecessor, and the dispute boiled over this weekend. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever offered his resignation to the king on Monday after budget talks failed.
Poland's long-running dispute over the independence of its judiciary reached a boiling point this weekend. The government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk is trying to reverse judicial appointments made under the previous right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) government. Tusk's administration argues that removing these appointees is essential to bringing Poland back into line with EU rule-of-law standards.
After the turmoil of the weekend, however, the question is whether the push could backfire. Commentators are also weighing what it could mean for Tusk's support ahead of next year's elections.
Crisis in Belgium
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever offered his resignation to King Philippe on Monday morning after his government failed to reach a budget agreement for 2027. Politico's journalists examine whether this means the government will collapse and what happens next.
Food policy comes to Brussels
The Make American Healthy Again campaign of US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is also arriving in Brussels, at least when it comes to ultra-processed foods. These topics are discussed in an episode of Politico Europe's Brussels Playbook podcast, hosted by Zoya Sheftalovich and Kathryn Carlson. Listeners are invited to share their views on unhealthy processed snacks and junk food, and on how the EU should tackle them.
