Polish opposition leaders meet in show of unity

The leaders of all Poland’s main opposition parties – other than the far-right – have jointly attended an event in Warsaw in a display of unity ahead of the campaign for next year’s parliamentary elections.

While they emphasised their shared interests – in particular removing the ruling national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party – they did not reveal any concrete plans for what electoral blocs the opposition may form for those elections. That decision is expected by the end of 2022.

The gathering took place at a security forum organised by former presidents Aleksander Kwaśniewski and Bronisław Komorowski – both associated with the opposition – to mark the 25th anniversary of Poland starting accession talks to join NATO.

Speaking at the event, Donald Tusk – leader of the centrist Civic Platform (PO), Poland’s largest opposition party – said that Ukraine’s “heroic” defence against Russia’s invasion emphasises the importance of the challenge ahead of the Polish opposition.

“The task of the leaders of the democratic opposition in Poland is to clearly and firmly raise the issue of the rule of law, individual freedom – all those values ​​for which Ukrainians are fighting today, paying a tribute of blood,” said Tusk, quoted by the Polish Press Agency (PAP).

“We want Ukraine to win [but] must also win our own confrontation…[with] the political east, authoritarianism, contempt for man and minorities, and for our world,” he continued. Poles should not give in to “the false temptation to seek a middle way between evil and good, authoritarianism and democracy, honesty and corruption”.

Tusk and his party have long suggested that PiS rules in a similar manner to Vladimir Putin in Russia, showing contempt for democracy and the rule of law, as well as sowing divisions between Poland and western Europe. Last year, Tusk criticised PiS for its friendly relations with pro-Russian parties in the EU.

PiS, however, notes that it has long held a firmly anti-Russian position and that under its rule Poland has been one of Ukraine’s staunchest allies this year. It also argues that, when Tusk was prime minister, he pursued a conciliatory line towards Putin’s Russia.

Continuing his remarks today, Tusk declared that, while “Poles will forgive us for the differences that arise on many issues”, opposition leaders would “be ashamed for the rest of our lives” if they failed to deliver “a victory against everything that plunges Poland into chaos, confusion and uncertainty”.

Since his return as leader of PO last year, Tusk has been pushing for the opposition to form a single bloc ahead of next year’s parliamentary elections, arguing that their differences in some areas of policy are less important than their shared desire to oust the PiS-led government.

The idea has, however, so far been met with resistance from other party leaders, who have suggested that having two or three opposition blocs would be a better approach.

Speaking this morning to broadcaster RMF, Wlodzimierz Czarzasty – one of the leaders of The Left (Lewica), the second-largest opposition group in parliament – said that a decision would have to be made by the end of the year. He added, however, that the precise structure of the opposition is not the most pressing issue.

Subsequently, at today’s secutiry forum, Czarzasty reiterated remarks he had made on Saturday that, regardless of how many blocs the opposition forms ahead of elections, they would come together to create a government afterwards if successful in ousting PiS from power.

Speaking after Czarzasty, Władysław Kosiniuk-Kamysz, leader of the centre-right Polish People’s Party (PSL), also emphasised that a future government must promote “freedom, protection of civilisation, our values, individuals, and the rule of law”, reports TVN.

“Rebuilding the national community is the number one task,” he continued. “The [current] authorities will not do that. It is not possible under the rule of those who spread the disease of hatred. That’s why we must win the elections. Regardless of which blocs we go with, we need to restore the elementary sense of security.”

Szymon Hołownia, leader of the centrist Poland 2050 (Polska 2050), likewise argued that removing PiS and restoring Poles’ sense of security are interlinked. He said that part of this would be improving Poland’s relations with its allies.

“If you are not at the table, you end up on the menu,” warned Hołownia. PiS argues, however, that the response it has led to the war in Ukraine – with Poland becoming a major humanitarian, military and diplomatic hub – has already made the country a valued ally to western governments.

Another of those to speak at the event was Jarosław Gowin, who was a leading figure in the PiS-led government from 2015-2021 before being ejected from its coalition last year.

Gowin warned that Poland “cannot afford a pointless conflict” with Germany, its western neighbour and biggest trading partner, at a time of such heightened threats. The PiS government has recently ramped up its longstanding criticism of Germany.

“Poland cannot turn away from the West,” Gowin warned, quoted by Wirtualna Polska. Attempts to do so simply echo “Russian propaganda”, he added.

Main image credit: Platforma Obywatelska/Twitter 

Daniel Tilles

Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland. He has written on Polish affairs for a wide range of publications, including Foreign Policy, POLITICO Europe, EUobserver and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.