Tusk names ally Piotr Serafin as Poland’s next EU commissioner pick

Tusk announced the decision on Tuesday at a press conference.

Serafin will replace Janusz Wojciechowski, Poland’s current European commissioner.

Wojciechowski, a relatively low-key official, has been in charge of the agriculture portfolio. Farmers have criticized him for mishandling their grievances as thousands took to the streets across Europe this year in protest of the bloc’s green transition targets.

Defense, a new commissioner post once floated as a possible area of interest for Poland, could be less attractive given the limited budget involved.

Poland’s Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski was initially tipped as a candidate for defense commissioner but later shot down that suggestion.

Serafin is no stranger to the EU’s power corridors.