Donald Tusk’s childhood. The Prime Minister talks about his father

Donald Tusk was named after his father

The name Donald was not popular in Poland either now or in 1957, when Donald Tusk was born. The politician owes his name to his father, who was also called Donald. Donald Tusk’s father, a carpenter, decided to give his son his own name. The name has a long tradition, originating from Celtic. It is made up of two members: dumno and valos, which mean worldly and powerful or mighty respectively. In Old Irish tradition, Domnall meant strong of the world or ruler of the world. In Anglo-Saxon countries it was also translated as chief of the people or lord of the people.

Donald Tusk’s strict father

Donald Tusk rarely mentions his father, Donald Tusk senior, in public. However, in his book `Sincerely’ he recounted his difficult relationship with his father, who used corporal punishment against him.

My father was afraid of me, he

used to

spank me. It was not standard. I won’t say with a good effect, because violence never has a good effect. All my friends got hit, but my father maybe hit a little more often and harder. The only day when he tried to be gentler was Christmas Eve, but it still didn’t work out for him,’ he confessed.

In his book `Donald Tusk. The road to power’ he added: My

father was strict with me. That is why I even felt some relief after his death, which I think about today with some embarrassment. I never dreamt of returning to my childhood. Probably because if I did something wrong – and I was not an easy child – my father did not hesitate to reach for his belt and beat

me.

Donald Tusk about his father

Donald Tusk recalled that his father had different thicknesses of belts from which to choose:

He was very demanding. And that’s probably where the overzealousness in punishment came from. He had different thicknesses of strips. I could choose a thin belt or a thick one. Since then I have understood the meaning of the word `choice’.

Donald Tusk senior died in 1972, when the future politician was finishing primary school.

Donald Tusk’s mother

Donald Tusk’s mother, Ewa Tusk, was German. She was born in 1934. Ewa Tusk worked as a secretary at the Medical University of Gdansk. In 2009, she died after a serious illness. Donald Tusk recalled her in the pages of `Gazeta Wyborcza’:

I have associated my mother with the sun since I was a child. My first memory is of my mum wearing sunglasses. Smiling, very kind, and blonde. I loved her without memory,” he confessed.

The story of Donald Tusk and his name is linked to family tradition and personal experiences. Both his father and his mother had a strong influence on his life, which is reflected in his memories and stories.