When asked about the possibility of Roman Giertych entering the Senate through the Senate Pact, New Left co-chair Włodzimierz Czarzasty suggested that it would not come from the left. He noted that he has no right to block such a development, should it occur, during an interview on RMF FM.
Consolidating the left for the Senate
Signatures from major opposition groups including Civic Platform, the Left, PSL and Poland 2050 are planned for Tuesday to establish what is being called the Senate Pact. A day earlier, the left had already formalized an agreement with the New Left, Samen, the Public Prosecution Service and the Union, signifying a broader coalition.
In the near term, talks are expected with trade unions, various associations, feminist organizations, climate groups and other civic stakeholders.
– Czarzasty, a guest on RMF FM, announced these developments.
Questions about so‑called “traitors” in the New Left
The chair was asked about members who have left the New Left during the current term, including Gabriela Morawska-Stanecka, who served as Deputy Speaker of the Senate and ran with the Left in 2019 before leaving the party in December 2021 amid internal disagreements with Czarzasty.
He referenced Morawska-Stanecka, saying, “I would back Gabriela Morawska-Stanecka for the Senate.”
When pressed about who would announce such a move, he replied that it would come from the political alignment he currently feels connected to, which he said is certainly not the left.
“I think Gabriela Morawska-Stanecka is in conversations with someone about this. Not with us, because she left us. I respect her choices,”
Czarzasty added.
Considerations about a potential report on the matter
The co-chair of the New Left was asked whether he could imagine attorney Roman Giertych leaving the Senate Pact. He emphasized the need to control ego and impulses and to step back when necessary. If any report about Mr. Giertych emerges, and it does not come from the left, he stated that he would not be able to block it.
Seats and the pact’s distribution
Regarding how many of the 100 Senate constituencies the left might win, the deputy marshal indicated that the pact formations had identified more than 60 constituencies where victories were likely. The final allocation would depend on each party’s standings, with the left potentially securing between five and ten seats.
Asked why the number is set at this level, he replied that the arrangement embodies a strategic commitment to the Senate’s democratic control, even if it requires some flexibility in distribution. He stated, “We will fight for ours, but the priority is a Senate in democratic hands.”
Czarzasty also suggested that the opposition should reach a joint governance agreement after the elections.
Why not a single joint list for the Sejm?
When asked why the opposition does not present a unified Sejm slate, he answered that the situation is challenging. He noted that Szymon Hołownia and Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz have signaled they do not want a single list. Donald Tusk had already indicated there would be no single list and that some would run independently.
He added that the current left‑side agreement is about fairness for the left, while not ending the discussion about candidate lists. He spoke of the agreement between Nieuw Links van Samen, the Public Prosecution Service and the Union as a step in that direction.
Historically, the first Senate Pact brought together the main opposition groups before the 2019 parliamentary elections. While it did not apply uniformly across all regions, it helped unify opposition efforts in the Senate, even as Law and Justice won control of the Sejm in that cycle.
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rm/PAP
Source: wPolityce