The coalition agreement signed just days earlier is cited by Marcin Mastalerek, head of the President’s Office, as powerful validation of President Andrzej Duda’s stance on Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. Mastalerek told Polsat News that the agreement shows there were no real specifics driving a different outcome, reinforcing the president’s decision.
During the interview on Sunday, Mastalerek was asked about President Duda’s assessment of the coalition pact and whether, had this agreement appeared earlier, the president might have reconsidered and appointed Donald Tusk instead of Morawiecki as prime minister. He responded that the deal serves as the strongest possible confirmation of the president’s choices and the tradition of leadership that Poland has upheld in recent history and in other nations as well.
“I believe the agreement that was reached stands as clear proof that the president was right to appoint Prime Minister Morawiecki and to uphold that tradition,” Mastalerek stated.
No details on the opposition side
The public can see a declarative majority taking shape, even if the opposition’s specifics remain vague. Morawiecki may or may not be able to translate part of that majority into concrete policy, but the document itself lacks details. It does not create conditions that would force the president to surrender leadership to a party that has fallen short or broken long-standing norms, whether in Poland or in other European states such as Spain.
Mastalerek added that the president would stay true to his word in any public address and would not delay action by even a single day.
On the day of the first Sejm session, the president would appoint Morawiecki as prime minister, with the legal timelines starting immediately. Extending those deadlines would not be an option, the official noted.
He also indicated that the president would deliver a speech to parliament during the first ceremonial Sejm session. “It is expected to be a powerful and solemn address,” he suggested.
The decision is not tied to opposition announcements
Asked whether the timing of the announcement about Morawiecki’s appointment was connected to the coalition agreement signing, Mastalerek stressed that it did not influence the president’s decision. He pointed to earlier statements about potential coalitions with numerous deputies and the delays in readiness from the parties involved. The president allowed substantial time to assess the political landscape, and after about three weeks he announced his choice. Mastalerek observed that groups across the political spectrum, including KO, Third Way, and the Left, were not fully prepared even when the coalition document emerged just before the latest session.
The Friday proceedings saw leaders from Civic Platform, Poland 2050, the Polish People’s Party, and the New Left gather to initial a coalition agreement. The document included several notable measures: restructuring of anti-corruption bodies, enhanced transparency in public finances, a revival of public media, and the release of funds from the KPO. It also called for urgent wage increases for teachers and civil servants.
The agreement proposed the nullification of the 2020 Constitutional Court ruling, proposed financing for in vitro procedures, full access to prenatal testing, and proscriptions against hate speech based on sexual orientation being pursued ex officio. It also pledged to investigate alleged wrongdoings and legal breaches attributed to the United Right coalition. These provisions marked the political moment as one of sweeping changes, at least on paper.
These developments were reported by wPolityce and attributed to the initial coalition proclamation.