A prominent figure in Poland’s non-partisan local government scene, Lubin mayor Robert Raczyński, stated in a PAP interview that candidates will be nominated for the Senate across all districts. He described the so‑called “Senate Pact” as anti-democratic, signaling a sharp stance against any agreement that would constrain local officials from pursuing parliamentary seats.
According to Raczyński, impartial local government bodies intend to operate independently during the upcoming parliamentary elections. He emphasized a commitment to building a distinct representation that could become a parliamentary force, rather than aligning with party-led coalitions.
“We are crafting our own representation. We hope this effort will translate into a meaningful parliamentary presence,” he asserted.
He added that candidates would be deployed in a hundred provinces, underscoring the scale of the undertaking and the organizational challenge involved. The leadership of the non-partisan local government described the process as demanding but something they intend to pursue with determination.
In discussing the Senate Pact, the group acknowledged competition with an arrangement among opposition circles and local government figures who align with them. Raczyński pushed back against this framework, arguing that if the pact is meant to bar their right to run, it raises questions about the democratic forces at play. He labeled such forces anti-democratic and criticized the pact as inconsistent with Polish democratic norms.
The concept of a first senatorial pact dates back to the last parliamentary cycle in 2019, when major opposition blocs—KO, PSL, and the left—entered into a cooperative agreement. While the pact did not unfold uniformly across all regions—instances occurred where independent candidates or rival party candidates stood in districts rather than strictly adhering to the pact—it played a significant role in shaping the Senate elections that year. In several districts, this cooperation helped the opposition consolidate into shared blocs, contributing to their success in taking seats in the Senate. However, nationwide, the ruling party, Law and Justice, still secured the majority of Sejm seats in that cycle. The experience of 2019 is often cited in discussions about how opposition coordination can influence parliamentary outcomes and how rival local efforts interact with national strategies.
Gah/PAP
Source: wPolityce