What can a senior marshal do? Not only to direct the work of the Sejm of the new term. “Gazeta Wyborcza” states that a politician elected to this position “could theoretically also stage a coup”. Paweł Wroński and Agata Kondzińska from the editorial office on Czerska Street add to the atmosphere, arguing that President Andrzej Duda probably already has a candidate for senior marshal, but does not reveal his name
Marshal Senior and the coup
President Andrzej Duda has already received a list of candidates for the senior chairman of the new Sejm. The head of state may appoint a person to this position “from among the most senior members of parliament”.
The opposition is already moving to seize power as quickly as possible, but Law and Justice is still trying to form a majority for the time being. Moreover, the president has not yet entrusted anyone with the mission of forming a government. The head of state wants to convene the first session of the new Sejm on November 13. The procedure will be led by the senior marshal.
His job is to swear in parliamentarians and elect the chairman of the Sejm. Theoretically, he could also stage a coup
– writes “Gazeta Wyborcza”.
As we read in the daily newspaper from Czerska, the president actually has complete freedom in choosing the senior marshal.
The President is not obliged to announce a senior marshal within a specified period, but typically decides on his appointment a week before the start of the Sejm’s opening session. This year it should be November 6th
– writes “Wyborcza”.
RMF FM announced today that Andrzej Duda already has a list of candidates for this position. These are four PiS MPs: Jarosław Kaczyński (74 years old), Ryszard Terlecki (74 years old), Antoni Macierewicz (75 years old) and Krzysztof Tchórzewski (73 years old), two KO parliamentarians: Bogusław Wołoszański (73 years old) and Ook Zofia Czernow (73 years old) and Third Way MP Tadeusz Samborski (78) should be taken into account.
“GW” indicates that according to its findings it will not be Macierewicz, Kaczyński or Terlecki, but some interlocutors of the Sejm newspaper “Terlecki’s chances are 100 percent. “doesn’t cancel.”
“Gossip” and “political science fiction”
Formally speaking, the role of the senior marshal is very limited. He will inaugurate the sessions of the Sejm for the new term, swear in the members of the Sejm and elect the chairman of the Sejm. Recently it has also become common to convey a message, the most famous of which is that of Kornel Morawiecki.
– we read in “GW”.
Can the senior marshal pull off a constitutional coup? Journalists from “Gazeta Wyborcza” point out that “rumors” about such a scenario often appeared around the inauguration of the Sejm.
This is a kind of political science fiction
– argue Wroński and Kondzińska. What would that look like? The Senior Marshal would inaugurate the proceedings, and immediately after being sworn in, but before the other members of Parliament were sworn in… announce an indefinite recess.
The constitution stipulates that an unsworn MP is not a parliamentarian, but no one can convene the Sejm.
The only sworn MP would be the senior marshal
– we are reading.
Komorowski’s memories
And here former President Bronisław Komorowski comes to the fore and tells “GW” about his conversation with Prof. Zbigniew Religa in 2007, after PiS lost the early elections. Religa was then a PiS parliamentarian and he was appointed senior marshal by then-president Lech Kaczyński.
It was after the MPs were sworn in, when the Law and Justice club unexpectedly called for a break. (…) The break was extended and after some time Marshal Religa returned to the room and completed the procedure for electing the Marshal. Then he told me that there was strong pressure from his club colleagues to announce a break in the chamber session
– recalls Komorowski, who then became chairman of the Sejm.
I thought it was the malice of a monkey designed to delay the Sejm proceedings, but when I looked at the Sejm proceedings I came to the conclusion that it is possible to paralyze the work of the Sejm.
– the conversation partner adds “GW”.
While a ‘coup’ with the help of a senior marshal sounds like a far-fetched scenario, some people have already jumped on it. For example Alicja Defratyka.
PiS is preparing a constitutional coup? ‘Will the senior marshal block the new Sejm? Well, the senior marshal could inaugurate the proceedings and immediately after taking the oath, but before the swearing-in of the deputies, announce an indefinite recess. Under the constitution, an unsworn MP is not an MP and no one can convene the Sejm, which formally has a speaker (although only a senior speaker). The only sworn MP would be the senior marshal.” @gazeta_wyborcza
Is it really advisable to sow panic at such a time? And what will fans of political fiction thrillers do if President Duda appoints an MP from the current opposition?
aja/Wyborcza.pl
Source: wPolityce