Nowe Centrum and Poland 2050: A Look at Reserve Parties in Polish Politics
The reserve party of Szymon Hołownia, Nowe Centrum, was removed from the official records by the court as Poland 2050 faced ongoing political turbulence. Reports from Rzeczpospolita describe reserve or auxiliary parties as a longstanding feature in Polish political life. Examples include a bloc built by conservative party founders and a leader in Agrounia who manages multiple registrations. Notably, Michał Kołodziejczak campaigns under four banners: Lawful Poland, the social movement Poland 2050 TAK, Stable Poland, and a social interest group. Meanwhile Solidarna Polska has served as a backup vehicle for Zbigniew Ziobro and his milieu, and a new formation with the name Sovereign Poland has entered the scene. (citation: Rzeczpospolita)
Challenges Facing Hołownia
Hołownia’s team has kept questions about additional reserve parties deliberately vague. A Poland 2050 spokeswoman stated that Hołownia has never been a member of any party other than Poland 2050, emphasizing a single-party affiliation. (citation: Rzeczpospolita)
Despite those assurances, discussions persist about a possible connection between Poland 2050 and other groups. The current board of the now-defunct center party includes individuals with ties to the former TV journalist, raising questions about ongoing associations. Information cited by Rzeczpospolita mentions activists from the Polska 2050 network in Pomerania who are reported to be in contact with authorities.
The registration process for Poland 2050 took more than a year, and some insiders indicated a backup formation might be prudent. A Poland 2050 activist described the need for an additional structure to safeguard the movement’s political positioning. (citation: Rzeczpospolita)
There is also admission that removing Nowe Centrum from the registry marked a serious misstep within the Hołownia community.
Simple Reasons Behind Deregistration
The deregistration of Hołownia’s reserve party is tied to a missed 2021 financial report submitted to the National Election Commission. Missing the deadline triggered the commission to seek court action to remove the party from the official list. Activists from Nowe Centrum were criticized for showing zero activity on their 2021 report in every category.
The ongoing question for Polska 2050 is how this deregistration will influence its parliamentary prospects. The party operates in coalition with PSL, counting on a budget subsidy, yet its 2021 financial report faced rejection by the commission. Rzeczpospolita notes a potential repeat scenario if future reports mirror past patterns, as both Polska 2050 as a party and as an association may complicate financial transparency within the Hołownia network.
No Reflection
Another practical concern is the decision to field candidates in coalition with the People’s Party, aiming to clear an 8 percent electoral threshold. In contrast, Konfederacja has pursued a different strategy by uniting multiple factions under an umbrella party, allowing representation with a threshold of 5 percent. In this context, Hołownia’s reserve group could prove useful if the name is changed to Third Way and lists are composed of Poland 2050 and PSL members. (citation: wPolityce)
Read also: “Who will top the Third Way lists?” with the first names already signaling the direction, and notes that more time remains for finalizing details. The discussion touches on proposals for the euro introduction in Poland, with PSL leaders recognizing a legitimate debate and Hołownia suggesting timely action.
Source at wPolityce is cited as the basis for these interpretations. (citation: wPolityce)