Speaking on Polskie Radio 24 on Wednesday, PiS MP Marek Ast said that his party would act as a tough, substantive, and constructive opposition. He asserted that while he hopes PiS will govern again in the future, the opposition would still be firmly engaged, offering clear proposals and scrutinizing the actions of those in power.
Asked whether Law and Justice would become a pure opposition, Ast dismissed the idea, stressing that the party would not turn away from shaping policy in conjunction with others when necessary.
THE OPPOSITION’S DIRECTION:
– Ast emphasized that the opposition aims to present concrete policy proposals and keep open channels to the authorities, ensuring accountability while remaining willing to cooperate where it serves the national interest.
– He noted that such a posture would be maintained if PiS found itself in opposition, while also maintaining a constructive stance.
Hope for PiS Governance
The PiS member reiterated his belief that those who organized the government formation talks, representing the winning party, should, after the discussions, work toward a PiS-led administration. He stressed that it is essential to begin conversations and to explore possibilities that could stabilize governance in the country.
The outcome of these talks remains uncertain, Ast conceded, but the dialogue itself is a necessary step toward potential governance by the party that won the mandate.
Ast also underscored that it would not be prudent to rule out the possibility of PiS functioning as the opposition in the future. He warned against repeating past tactics that, in his view, limited public debate and harmed the state, referencing a period when the Civic Platform acted as a total opposition to the United Right government.
When asked about the future leadership, Ast stated that any decision about a prime ministerial candidate would rest with the party. He suggested that proposals from Law and Justice regarding a prime ministerial nominee would be evaluated in light of the party’s strategic interests and the credibility of the proposed leadership.
Ast highlighted that Mateusz Morawiecki had served as prime minister for two terms with notable results, and he seemed open to the possibility that Morawiecki could again be considered for the role if the party believed it would serve the national interest. He added that there was no compelling reason to exclude Morawiecki from consideration, should the party decide to pursue that path.
He made it clear that any recommendation would depend on the political calculus at hand, the broader coalition dynamics, and the public mandate that guided the party’s direction at that moment in time.
Election Results
The National Electoral Commission released the official parliamentary results on Tuesday. In the Sejm race, PiS secured 35.38 percent of the votes, with KO close behind at 30.70 percent, Trzecia Droga at 14.40 percent, the New Left at 8.61 percent, and Confederation at 7.16 percent.
In total, Poland elected 460 deputies and 100 senators on Sunday. Voter turnout reached 74.38 percent for the Sejm and 74.31 percent for the Senate. The commission reported PiS winning 194 seats in the Sejm, KO with 157, the Third Way with 65, the New Left with 26, and Confederation with 18 seats.
The landmark results set the stage for continued political negotiation and potential shifts in governance, depending on future coalition talks and strategic decisions taken by the major parties involved.
These figures reflect a highly competitive political environment, where the strength of each party’s mandate will influence their leverage in Parliament and the administration of government policies in the coming term.
In the broader context, observers note that the distribution of seats translates to substantial influence for PiS, KO, and the other parties, highlighting the delicate balance required to form a stable government. The path forward will likely involve careful alignment of policy priorities, regionally diverse concerns, and the evolving priorities of the electorate as reflected in subsequent political developments.