Kaczynski: a 2nd EU term for Tusk not in Poland's interests

FILE- in this files photo March 7, 2013,Jaroslaw Kaczynski, center, the head of the ruling Law and Justice party, speaks to the Polish parliament in Warsaw. Kaczynski said Thursday that is is not in his country's interests for Donald Tusk to serve a second term as head of the European Council, a key European Union leadership position. Donald Tusk is at right. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski, File) (The Associated Press)

WARSAW, Poland – Poland's most powerful politician, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, says it's not in his country's interests for Donald Tusk to serve a second term as head of the European Council, a key European Union leadership position.

The opposition leaves Poland as the only EU state openly opposed to a second term for the former Polish premier, whose current term ends in May.

Kaczynski, a longtime political rival of Tusk's, noted Tusk had backed an EU plan to fine countries that wouldn't accept refugees in a settlement plan that failed in part due to Polish opposition.

Kaczynski said late Thursday such fines would have cost Poland 3 billion euros.

There was no immediate response from Tusk's office. The European Council brings together leaders of the 28 member states to determine the bloc's political priorities.