Left-wing MPs Anna Maria Żukowska and Anita Kucharska-Dziedzic react positively to the creation of the so-called coalition council. PSL MP Marek Sawicki is skeptical about it. “If a multi-stage structure is created, decision-making will become more distant,” he said. KO does not say “no” – explains Dorota Łoboda.
On Monday, Speaker of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia announced that he had spoken with Prime Minister Donald Tusk last week about the creation of the so-called coalition council, a working team that will meet more often than the leaders of the parties that make up the ruling coalition.
This will be a group of our closest colleagues who will meet weekly, in coalition, to discuss what we can do together, what needs to be done separately, what is the protocol for disagreements that the leaders need to resolve.
– said the Speaker of the Sejm.
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Opinions on the council are divided
Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Ministry of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, asked by PAP on Tuesday for details of such a council, said he was in favour of the coalition partners holding further discussions on common positions and common ideas.
We have a coalition agreement, which is the basis for our good functioning. We will implement what is in the coalition agreement, and if new ideas emerge – I speak as the leader of PSL – I am always very open to them.
– he stated. He assured that there is a ‘leadership council’, but it is equally important that the coalition council can also function at the parliamentary level.
PSL is very open to any dialogue and understanding
– insured Kosiniak-Kamysz.
Other politicians from the ruling coalition commented on the issue of the establishment of the council in an interview with PAP. The chairwoman of the Left Club, Anna Maria Żukowska, said that the meeting on the establishment of the parliamentary council of the coalition took place before the parliamentary vacation.
The meeting at Mr. Hołownia’s was attended by club and party leaders, as well as ministers
she said. She thinks it’s a good idea.
The deputy head of the left-wing club, Anita Kucharska-Dziedzic, admitted in an interview with PAP that she knew nothing about the plans to create a parliamentary coalition council and would like to know the details of Marshal Hołownia’s idea.
If a broader group, beyond the leaders, would come together to discuss current issues, that might be a good idea
– she assessed. On the other hand, she added, “the question arises as to what powers this council will have to take a decision.”
According to the MP, such a group could be used to resolve conflicts within the ruling coalition “before they escalate into issues discussed in the media.”
But as we know all ideas are good until we start talking about details
– noted Kucharska-Dziedzic.
PSL MP Marek Sawicki told PAP that he learned about the idea of creating a coalition council through Marshal Hołownia’s Monday statement. As he noted, a council consisting of coalition leaders existed from the beginning and the leaders met regularly.
What worries me is that Marshal Szymon Hołownia expects the creation of a new council. Because, to be honest, I remember from history – both the last and the earlier ones – that when problems arose, councils were convened or councils were appointed, and I expected freedom of choice, not just advice.
– Sawicki emphasized.
To the comment that, according to Marshal Hołownia, this council should improve and accelerate the work of the coalition, the MP replied that he did not believe in such acceleration.
To be honest, when a multi-stage structure is created, decision-making becomes more distant and delayed, rather than accelerated.
– said Sawicki.
In turn, the spokeswoman of the KO club, MP Dorota Łoboda, told PAP that KO politicians are not yet aware of the details regarding the appointment of the so-called coalition council. She recalled that this was an idea proposed by Marshal Hołownia and that so far it had been discussed mainly by the leadership.
Of course the Citizens’ Coalition will not say no to such an idea
– she noted.
Marshal Hołownia explained that the aim of the council was to improve cooperation between the coalition partners, because, of course, no one hides that there are disagreements on some issues. However, if it is a matter of details, we will talk about it when the new parliamentary season begins, then the presidium of the club or the entire club will meet and we will discuss it.
– Łoboda announced.
So we have to wait until the MPs return to the Sejm to answer the question: who exactly would sit on the council, how many members of each club would sit there and whether they would be the club chairmen?
– added the KO MP.
Details are unknown
Politicians of Poland 2050 also admitted in an interview with PAP that they did not know the details of the council. They emphasize that so far only the idea and the concept of its creation have been created.
As Polish 2050-TD MP Żaneta Cwalina-Śliwowska told PAP, all decisions regarding the council, including staffing issues and who will sit on it, are still in the negotiation phase.
Details are still to come, so it’s too early to make any statements. For now, everything is in the concept phase
– Cwalina-Śliwowska added.
gah/PAP
Source: wPolityce
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.