In the lead up to the parliamentary elections, the top ten positions on the Civic Coalition lists are planned to be decided jointly, with a so-called slider system that alternates between women and men. This approach was announced by Donald Tusk, the leader of the Civic Platform, during a Monday event.
“I am very stubborn when it comes to issues of parity and sliders in lists,” he stated during a gathering with women’s circles in Pszczyna, located in Silesia.
In a moment connected to a broader discussion, Tusk noted that the arrangement for the gender mix and the rotating order would apply to at least the ten best candidates from the Civic Coalition in the upcoming elections.
“Units” for women
Beyond the top ten, Tusk also indicated that a roughly equal split should be maintained for the lists’ so‑called “ones,” ensuring that about half of these positions are held by men and the other half by women. The leader of the Civic Platform has consistently pushed for measures aimed at achieving full equality between women and men, including areas such as compensation. He suggested taking a page from countries like Spain or France, where pay transparency is mandated for a given job regardless of the employee’s gender.
Another legal approach discussed involves a formal obligation to address the so‑called pay gap, the disparity in earnings between women and men. According to Tusk, such a requirement should be introduced in state‑owned enterprises and public institutions. He stressed that changing regulations must be paired with a shift in social attitudes to achieve real progress in pay equality.
What about pensions?
At the Pszczyna meeting, Tusk was asked about pension provisions for widows following the death of a spouse. Presently, widows can either retain their own pension or, if it is financially more advantageous, receive a benefit at 85 percent of the deceased husband’s pension. The Civic Coalition favors an amendment allowing the widow to receive a share of the deceased husband’s pension in addition to her own benefit, with drafts proposing 25 or 50 percent shares.
Tusk emphasized that the rising cost of living calls for regulatory changes to compensate for the lost income after a spouse’s death. He argued that more of the joint double pension should remain with the widow than is currently the case, noting that any such reform would require recalculating the financial impact for the Social Insurance Institution.
These remarks reflect a broader policy agenda aimed at strengthening financial security for families, promoting gender equality in the workplace, and ensuring that pension systems adapt to contemporary economic pressures.
The discussion highlighted the party’s stance on social and economic reforms that affect everyday life for many Canadians and Americans who follow Poland’s political landscape, including the ongoing dialogue about how parity, wages, and pension rules should evolve in modern democracies.
— The coverage continues to monitor political developments and expert commentary on parliamentary candidates and policy proposals.
Notes: The presentation of these topics aligns with ongoing reporting on the Civic Coalition’s platform and public statements made at campaign events in regional Poland.
Attribution: Coverage maintains journalistic standards with input from regional outlets and national agencies.