Parliamentary Maneuvering and Key Appointments in Poland
During a recent broadcast on RMF FM, Łukasz Schreiber, a minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, stated that Mariusz Błaszczak would take over as the head of the PiS parliamentary club. He also noted that Elżbieta Witek is the most suitable choice for deputy speaker in the new Sejm, aligning with party discussions on leadership roles.
Schreiber was also questioned about the coalition agreement PiS might sign, signaling ongoing negotiations as the party positions itself for governance.
The Drive to Secure a Sejm Majority
The Prime Minister intends to persuade Sejm members to back the government’s program and its policy agenda. According to Schreiber, the transformation after the elections is clear: Law and Justice received around 7.6 million votes, a mandate that the party views as a natural basis for forming a government.
He added that Mateusz Morawiecki will unveil a program that goes beyond sovereignty, addressing broader European challenges. The plan is to respond to a migration framework under discussion in Europe, including concerns about centralized governance and the potential impact on Poland’s rights. Schreiber emphasized that this program must be presented to the Sejm and all parliamentarians, especially in the context of the eastern border situation and ongoing security concerns.
Schreiber asserted confidence in the mission’s value, stating that it makes sense in the current political climate.
In an RMF FM interview with Robert Mazurek, Schreiber also reassured listeners that PiS has not dropped its pursuit of a United Right government. He indicated a willingness to offer PSL MPs a choice so they cannot claim they had no option, arguing that the party did not capitulate and that Donald Tusk was the sole actor pushing for a government formation.
Schreiber noted that the winning party would typically aim to assemble around 231 MPs for its project, acknowledging that the likelihood of achieving this figure is moderate. PiS secured 194 seats in the elections, the strongest performance among the participating electoral committees but short of a bare majority in the 231-seat Sejm.
Personnel Considerations
When asked about Mariusz Błaszczak taking the helm of the PiS parliamentary club, Schreiber described the announcement as a planned development. He explained that occupying this role would preclude holding a ministerial seat simultaneously.
On the possibility of promoting Elżbieta Witek to deputy chairman in the new Sejm, Schreiber indicated that party authorities would announce any decisions. He acknowledged Witek as the most natural candidate for the role.
Schreiber also highlighted that over the last eight years in power, the six-member Sejm Presidium included three representatives from PiS and three from the opposition. He underscored that the party has not openly declared who should or should not serve as deputy chairman.
The Abortion Debate in the Campaign
Asked whether the 2020 Constitutional Court ruling on tightening abortion rules hurt PiS at the polls, Schreiber acknowledged that the issue did not help the campaign. He argued that the move to advance the case was a mistake from a moral and political standpoint, noting it did not lead to more births. He pointed out that liberal groups have used abortion as a banner while the social mood shifted in response to the campaign rhetoric.
Schreiber proposed that the division over abortion could be resolved by amending the Constitution to enshrine a lasting compromise on the issue, effectively writing it into constitutional law once and for all.
This article reflects ongoing political discourse in Poland as parties navigate leadership, coalition possibilities, and the sensitive abortion policy question. [Citation: wPolityce]