Four Polish opposition groups have signed an agreement to run the country as a coalition government in the wake of last month’s elections.
Poland’s opposition leaders Donald Tusk, the head of the liberal Civic Coalition (KO) (centre), Szymon Hołownia, the leader of the centre-right Poland 2050 group (first from left), Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, the head of the agrarian Polish People’s Party (PSL) (second from left), as well as co-leaders of the New Left: Włodzimierz Czarzasty (second PAP/Marcin Obara
The deal was signed in Warsaw on Friday by the leaders of the four pro-European Union groups, including Donald Tusk, their joint candidate for prime minister, state news agency PAP reported.
Tusk, the head of the liberal Civic Coalition (KO), Szymon Hołownia, the leader of the centre-right Poland 2050 group, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, the head of the agrarian Polish People’s Party (PSL), and the co-leaders of the New Left party, Włodzimierz Czarzasty and Robert Biedroń, were the main signatories.
Tusk, a former prime minister and top European Union official, said that by agreeing on a coalition government on the eve of Poland’s Independence Day, the four parties showed „it is possible to work swiftly and harmoniously together for the country.”
The liberal politician, who is the four parties’ choice for Poland’s next prime minister, said: „While decisions are up to the president, we are ready to take responsibility for the country in the coming years.”
Poland 2050’s Hołownia said the four parties aimed to retain their separate identities, while working together to „give people hope” and „pave the way for safe change.”
The PSL’s Kosiniak-Kamysz said the four opposition parties „have a plan” on how to „ensure national security, as well as the security and prosperity of every Polish family.”
The New Left’s Czarzasty said the agreement represented a „broad compromise” between the four parties, devised to „create a Poland that is open, based on the rule of law and that has a strong position in the EU.”
Fellow leftist leader Robert Biedroń said the four groupings were ready to take responsibility for Poland, as well as „help shape the future of the EU,” adding that the New Left would submit a bill to relax abortion law, among other policy proposals.
Poland set to appoint new gov’t
Poland’s ruling conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party won the parliamentary election on October 15, but lost its majority to an alliance of four pro-EU opposition parties led by the liberal Civic Coalition (KO).
President Andrzej Duda announced on Monday that the task of forming a new government would be given to current Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.
As all other parties have ruled out entering into a coalition government with Morawiecki’s Law and Justice, the current ruling party, in power since 2015, looks unlikely to be able to govern.
If Morawiecki is unable to win a vote of confidence in the lower house, the chamber will appoint another prime minister.
The job is expected to go to Tusk, who served as prime minister from 2007 to 2014.
(pm/gs)