AKIPRESS.COM - EU leaders have re-elected Donald Tusk as president of the European Council despite a bid to oust him by his home country, Poland, reports BBC. 

The leaders voted 27 to one to give him another two-and-a-half-year term.

The Polish government insisted Mr Tusk, a former PM from a rival party, had violated his mandate by interfering in domestic politics.

Poland's prime minister said she would refuse to sign off on the summit's final statement in protest.

"Poland has a right to veto the conclusions - and Poland is exercising that right," Beata Szydlo said.

She added that Mr Tusk was not impartial.

"He does not have the support of his home country - that's sufficient reason for him not to be appointed."

"Be careful of the bridges you burn, because once they are done, you can never cross them again," Mr Tusk said, in a comment aimed directly at the Polish government.

He said a responsible attitude was needed and he hoped to protect his country's interests.

The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, gave his full backing to the election result, saying "all the rules" had been respected.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also defended the result.

"Always better to find a consensus - but that can't be used to block things," she said. "That's how we proceeded with the vote today."