Kukiz’15 Leader Focuses on Postulates Over Headcount in United Right Talks
The emphasis in the discussions with the United Right coalition is not on the sheer number of deputies, but on the breadth of postulates included in the agreement, according to Kukiz’15 leader Paweł Kukiz. He acknowledged that the talks about the possibility of featuring PiS candidates on the United Right lists are progressing to a point he considers “more than satisfactory,” though formal steps remain necessary.
For weeks, Paweł Kukiz has been engaging with Jarosław Kaczyński, the president of PiS, regarding the prospect of Kukiz joining the United Right list for the autumn parliamentary elections. When PAP pressed him for a count of how many deputies might be secured in the next Sejm on the PiS lists, Kukiz offered a nuanced reply: the significance lies not in the number of deputies but in the number of postulates encompassed by the agreement with the United Right. The exact figures are less critical than the breadth of commitments that accompany any potential collaboration.
“If I were counting on forty or fifty deputies, the number would matter, but it does not matter whether the coalition would yield three, six, or eight members”, he explained, signaling that the scope of the agreement matters more than a simple tally.
What matters most to him is the level of satisfaction with the overarching arrangement. He said the current terms meet his expectations and that formalizing the contract remains a key step. He expressed trust that President Kaczyński would uphold his word, while stressing that it should be reduced to a formal written agreement rather than remaining only in verbal assurances.
In discussing the concrete demands, Kukiz outlined several policy strands he has discussed with Kaczyński. The proposed changes include the introduction of a mixed electoral system, the abolition of immunity for deputies and senators, the establishment of a local referendum day to occur mid-term, the continuation of tenure in local government, and the election of municipal guard commanders by residents. He said presenting and implementing these postulates would fully meet his expectations.
He added that there would be no reason to doubt that the United Right would approve measures if PiS were to assume power, because this agreement would involve the entire political camp and all factions within it. The tone remained hopeful that the broader coalition would be aligned with the agreed program when it becomes formalized.
Kukiz also noted that since signing the program agreement with the PiS leadership in 2021, his expectations have not been dashed. He reported that Jarosław Kaczyński has already enacted all the points of the prior agreement and has also passed several additional laws that went beyond the original scope, something he welcomed as positive progress.
Regarding the possibility of Kukiz running first on the PiS list in Opole, he stayed noncommittal about any specific placement. He said he never demanded a particular rank on the Law and Justice list from President Kaczyński and left room for the natural development of negotiations.
The parliamentary elections are scheduled for October 15, with Poland electing 460 deputies and 100 senators to four-year terms. The broader context of these talks centers on how collaboration within the United Right might influence the composition and priorities of the next Sejm, while a formal contract remains the pending milestone.
Gah/PAP