During a live TVP Info discussion, a question was raised about minority rights and the power to appoint minority representatives. The topic surfaced as PiS candidates were rejected by the coalition in the presidiums of the Sejm and the Senate. Andrzej Zybertowicz voiced his views in this context, highlighting a tension between minority rights and parliamentary control.
The central claim is that the right of a parliamentary minority is limited to nominating its own candidates for the Presidium positions in the Sejm and the Senate. In a broader sense, democracy is seen as a process where the majority makes decisions about who will be elected and who will not. MEP Marek Balt of the SLD framed this as a potential breach of the principles of democracy and the rule of law by the opposition coalition that holds the majority in the new parliament. This interpretation was debated on television the same day, in the program Woronicza 17 on TVP Info, featuring Prof. Andrzej Zybertowicz and Balt among others.
What about the principles of democracy and the rule of law?
The exchange centered on whether groups that won the trust of millions of Poles can be expected to act as responsible governing partners or merely as instruments of political rivalry. The discussion touched on the question of how the largest parliamentary club, PiS, should pursue leadership appointments to the Sejm and the Senate, and whether such moves align with long-standing commitments to democratic norms and the rule of law. An adviser to President Andrzej Duda urged the opposition to extend real respect to minority rights, not just rhetoric.
Balta, presenting Zybertowicz’s view, argued that the underlying formula of democracy—rule by the majority with respect for minority rights—had been reduced to a political slogan by PiS and that the opposition no longer felt bound by the principles long preached. The notion of minority rights was questioned in terms of whether it should allow the minority to designate who represents them.
Balt: We decide
We do not decide who a minority can nominate; we decide whom to elect. That was the direct reply from the Polish Member of the European Parliament representing the SLD. The discussion noted that the population’s preferences can surpass personal ideologies; for instance, a candidate who won a decisive share of votes in her district secured strong backing from voters, as did other figures. The implication was that defending the rule of law should not translate into limiting the electorate’s ability to trust the person they chose.
The debate echoed Zybertowicz’s commentary on how the electorate’s choices should constrain political actors, rather than allowing minority protection to become a pretext for blocking accountability or steering leadership selection away from voters’ will.
The international context of the president’s decision
Another major topic was the president’s decision to entrust the mission of forming a government to the current Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, following the October elections. The president’s move did not violate the law, but it drew criticism for deviating from established political norms and practices. A PSL deputy suggested this step might be part of a broader effort to influence the leadership of key state bodies, such as the Polish Financial Supervisory Authority, for a further period. The president explained that the decision was made as a constitutional initial step while weighing broader political factors, including international considerations.
Analysts noted that after the parliamentary elections, the European Parliament signaled an interest in rebalancing national powers, including in state security. One adviser pointed out that transferring powers away from national governments would have complicated Poland’s ability to respond rapidly to the war in Ukraine and to coordinate support with allies. That view was presented as a reminder of how Europe-wide dynamics interact with national governance choices.
Following Balt’s claims, it was suggested that minority concerns could extend beyond parliamentary partitions to broader communities seeking recognition and protections, for instance on civil partnerships or other rights. Yet the speakers cautioned that minority protections must be balanced against the broader constitutional order and the principle that majorities should not be permanently constrained from governing. The discussion highlighted the tension between protecting minority rights and preserving voters’ confidence in democratic processes.
In summary, the program reflected on how decisions about government formation, minority rights, and international considerations intersect with Polish democratic norms and the rule of law. The debates underscored that accountability, transparency, and adherence to constitutional processes remain central to public trust in governance. The coverage cited ongoing conversations across political factions and experts, with a careful emphasis on upholding democratic standards while recognizing the political realities of a multi-party system.
TVPInfo, platform X/rdm