The coalition in Poland appears to be distance themselves from the Liberal-leaning partners in the Third Way, specifically Poland 2050 and the PSL, who resist backing the proposed strict abortion legislation. Włodzimierz Czarzasty spoke directly on TVN24, saying he is personally exhausted by the stalemate.
Tzarzasty Says He Has Had Enough
During the program Fakty po Faktach, Włodzimierz Czarzasty, vice-president of the Sejm and co-chair of the New Left, was asked whether there would be changes to Poland’s abortion law. It is known that Czarzasty’s bloc and KO advocate for substantial liberalization, while Third Way proposes a referendum on what supporters call a compromise on abortion. The left has expressed clear opposition to these shifts.
“To be honest, I’ve had enough, and so have my colleagues in the party and my faction”, Czarzasty told Piotr Kraśka in a TVN24 interview.
Some promises were made in the past. He stated that neither the party he represents nor the party led by Marta Biejat and Katarzyna Zandberg would shoulder responsibility for laws they submitted on the first day in the Sejm—laws concerning a woman’s control over her own body, including the 12th week of pregnancy and the decriminalization of abortion, which he claimed were blocked by Hołownia and Kosiniak-Krzyszyn.
“Szymon, Szymek, Władysław, Władek”
Czarzasty reportedly convinced Kraska that he would not hear from him any endorsement of opposition to the coalition. Yet the discussion continued. He asserted that democracy exists and that his side would defend its form, adding that he could not be held responsible for actions that block policy, and that such blocks should be named openly.
The deputy speaker of the Sejm then used a provocative call to action, invoking the slogan of women’s rights to pressure the Third Way leaders. He praised the parties Polska 2050 and PSL, calling their leadership admirable, while pressing the issue of women’s rights and criticizing what he described as blocking measures that affect women.
In response to a journalist’s question about potential presidential vetoes, Czarzasty proposed a line of action that involved supporting a measure today and letting the president veto it if needed. The remark was delivered in a manner aimed at drawing attention to the stalemate rather than to a direct policy commitment.
The episode underscored a moment of tension within Poland’s political spectrum, with allies and partners grappling over how to address abortion policy. Observers noted the potential implications for coalition dynamics and the broader political climate as parties weigh whether to advance, block, or revisit proposed reforms.
Such developments illustrate the friction between those who push for expanded rights and those who favor more cautious reform, a debate that continues to unfold as officials consider legislative and referendum avenues. The evolving positions reflect a broader struggle over the pace and scope of policy change on a deeply personal and politically charged issue.