In the latest issue of Sieci, the Polish president, Andrzej Duda, sits down for a distinctive interview to explain why he entrusted Mateusz Morawiecki with the task of forming a government. He also touches on the dynamics with the speaker of the Sejm, Szymon Hołownia, and flags concerns about attempts to amend European treaties. Articles from this issue are available through the Network of Friends subscription, with additional content referenced in a note to readers.
President Duda speaks with Marzena Nykiel and Marcin Wikło, offering reflections on the most recent political developments in Poland. He notes that the absence of representatives from the winning party in the Presidium of the Sejm and the Senate reveals gaps between public statements and political practice. He observes slogans about democracy that clash with retaliatory actions seen in practice, emphasizing that a large parliamentary club lacking seats in key bodies challenges democratic principles.
Duda also clarifies the rationale behind naming Mateusz Morawiecki to lead the government formation process. He states that the Civic Coalition, the Left, and the Third Way failed to present a convincing case to deviate from parliamentary tradition, where the winning party is typically given the first opportunity to form a government under the current constitutional framework. The elections this year were won by Law and Justice.
During consultations with coalition representatives, the president notes several misses. He wanted a unified program and a thorough discussion of many details. He also points out that participants in the talks often held divergent positions on critical issues concerning Poland’s sovereignty, which complicated the search for common ground.
READ ALSO: ONLY WITH US. President Duda: I will defend Polish sovereignty. “I will keep a close eye on the Marshal’s first announcements.”
Reality show in Wiejska Street
Dorota Łosiewicz comments in the piece “Reality show in Wiejska Street” on the functioning of Poland’s Sejm as it begins its tenth term. Observers note that plenary sessions resembled a spectacle more than a substantive debate about the country’s future. The opening speech by the new Sejm speaker, Szymon Hołownia, who signaled his presence in media and launched his own podcast, sparked a media frenzy.
“Podcasting? Did the Marshal just announce a podcast? It would have been nice to see a subscription or a like,” quips Szczepan Twardoch on X. Dominika Chorosińska from PiS, elected for a second term, calls out the new speaker from the parliamentary bench, praising his talent while suggesting it should be used to carry out the responsibilities of the marshal’s office. Hołownia later explains to Wirtualna Polska that he will channel this talent to fulfill the duties of his role more seriously than before.
The piece argues that the current composition and atmosphere in the Sejm make it reasonable to expect a degree of reality-show energy to accompany the chamber’s work this term.
The Confederation party is discussed as potentially backing Hołownia’s bid for speaker in exchange for Bosak’s election as deputy speaker. A brief pre-vote meeting between Hołownia and Bosak drew humor from internet observers, who likened it to a moment from Dancing with the Stars or Got Talent. In the tenth term, several parliamentarians are noted for their prior television fame, including Bartosz Arłukowicz, who rose to prominence on a talent-based program and later entered politics with the ruling party. Viewers may also recall Jakub Rutnicki, who appeared on a popular music competition years earlier as a younger member of parliament for the PO.
Another section highlights the presence of a prominent historian under scrutiny. Jakub Augustyn Maciejewski discusses the fate of the textbook History and Present by Wojciech Roszkowski, sparked by a complaint from an internet activist who felt offended by a passage about in vitro fertilization. The debate centers on reproductive rights and the question of who will care for children born through newer methods, with a strong defense of parental love as a core element of identity.
Maciejewski notes the absurdity surrounding the dispute, including the removal of a contested fragment in a future edition to avoid offending readers or risking legal action, which in turn affects the author and publisher. The ensuing lawsuit has already brought financial and health costs, and the intense online hate campaign has deterred some teachers from using the textbook.
Worthy of attention are additional pieces by Bronisław Wildstein, Dorota Łosiewicz, Stanisław Janecki, Konrad Kołodziejski, Maciej Walaszczyk, Marek Pyza, Dariusz Matuszak, Marek Budzisz, and Jan Rokita. The issue also features interviews with Andrzej Rafał Potocki and Paweł Zalewski, Goran Andrijanić and Prof. David Engels, and Michał Karnowski and Ryszard Czarnecki, offering varied perspectives on European treaties and Poland’s place within the continent.
The magazine also includes commentary from Krzysztof Feusette, Dorota Łosiewicz, Bronisław Wildstein, Andrzej Rafał Potocki, Marta Kaczyńska-Zielińska, Samuel Pereira, Alina Czerniakowska, Lech Makowiecki, and the duo Andrzej and Katarzyna Zybertowicz. The new issue of Sieci is available in print and online for readers who subscribe to the Network of Friends. A related television program is also promoted for viewers seeking further coverage.