Mps from PiS, the Links, and Poland 2050 in Konin, in the Greater Poland Voivodeship, reacted with clear surprise to the announcement about AgroUnion leader Michał Kołodziejczak joining the Civic Coalition KO ticket. They saw this as a contest mainly affecting PSL and PiS, revealed in an interview with PAP on the day the list for the Sejm in this district was unveiled.
In the 2019 parliamentary elections, Law and Justice captured 5 of 9 available Sejm seats in Konin district No. 37. The Civic Coalition won two seats, while the KW SLD and PSL each took one seat.
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PO leader Donald Tusk announced that the Civic Coalition Sejm list from Konin district would begin with AgroUnia leader Michał Kołodziejczak. The district’s current KO MP, Tomasz Piotr Nowak, will run from second place.
Yesterday a plague, today an ally
Paulina Hennig-Kloska, elected from Konin district and chair of the Polish parliamentary group 2050, told PAP that Kołodziejczak had shown pro-Russian and anti-Ukrainian views in recent weeks. She noted that he had aligned with the most extreme nationalists and opposed women’s protests, casting doubt on how closely he connected with KO. By admitting such a choice to the Sejm, Donald Tusk was taking responsibility for him, she said.
Referring to past talks about a possible joint AgroUnia launch with Poland 2050 and PSL as part of the Third Way, Hennig-Kloska explained that her group did not want to assume responsibility for Kołodziejczak’s joint list due to the people around him. She added that the group did not know what lay behind the AgroUnia slogan and was not willing to risk it. She cited concerns about a person who had once worked with Kołodziejczak in the Ministry of Agriculture who ran an illegal animal farm and faced animal seizures due to health issues, calling such behavior incompatible with being a good host.
Two weeks earlier, Kołodziejczak had referred to Donald Tusk as a traitor in conversations with PAP, a turn of events Hennig-Kloska found ironic. She described Kołodziejczak as the subject of multiple coalitions this year, suggesting the drive is focused on entering the Sejm and tapping government funds.
The deputy suggested Kołodziejczak would not fight for her electorate. She argued that the alliance did not align with the region or the values important to voters and supporters of Poland 2050. She said the move seemed aimed at reclaiming former Samoobrona supporters now backing PiS and hinted at competing for PiS voters within the district.
Asked whether the candidacy of AgroUnia’s leader from Konin district surprised him, Konin district MP and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development secretary of state Ryszard Bartosik replied that the reaction was mixed. He noted that Kołodziejczak had long supported the Civic Platform, and while the choice of place and the list was a curiosity and surprise, the overall situation remained unclear. He added that Kołodziejczak is simply a candidate as of now and the outcome would reveal itself in time.
Bartosik emphasized that MPs have seen similar entrants appear over the years. He argued that if Kołodziejczak wins a seat, it would be a distinct development, but if not, his bid would fade away. He stressed that Kołodziejczak has no direct ties to his region and may not benefit local voters in the long run.
Asked about possible risks to agriculture from Kołodziejczak’s candidacy, Bartosik expressed no concern for the sector. He stressed that the farming community has a steady track record of support and that Kołodziejczak’s presence could even cause some confusion. He argued that Kołodziejczak’s move to the Civic Platform reflects past disagreements rather than a lasting project for rural areas and pointed to the broader domestic political landscape as the main factor shaping results.
When assessing Kołodziejczak’s chances in Konin district, Bartosik cautioned that predicting KO voters’ reactions was difficult. He did not forecast a major impact on PiS’s numbers and did not rule out the possibility of shifts among PO voters, but he noted the outcome would depend on many variables. He called it hard to say anything definitive at this stage.
Surprise
Left-wing Konin district MP Tadeusz Tomaszewski admitted to PAP that he was surprised by Kołodziejczak entering the KO list in his district. He viewed the move as an attempt to reclaim PiS mandates, noting PSL’s own precarious position as AgroUnia’s leader could influence his base. He said Kołodziejczak is a well known union activist and while some of his proposals touch the left, he is not viewed as an opponent but rather a competitor. The left shares some agricultural priorities with Kołodziejczak, making this a contest primarily for PSL and PiS. Interesting clashes are expected between Kołodziejczak and Deputy Minister of Agriculture Ryszard Bartosik, or Kołodziejczak and Leszek Galemba, head of the parliamentary agriculture committee, he predicted.
Tomaszewski added that he would run a positive campaign and avoid attacking people. He predicted Kołodziejczak’s campaign would be unconventional and that the ruling parties would have to respond to it.
Gah/PAP