Political Maneuvering and Presidential Ambitions in Poland: Mastalerek’s Analysis

The presidential dream could serve as a political anchor for Donald Tusk, and he is weighing it seriously among his options, according to Marcin Mastalerek, head of the President’s Office, on Polish Radio’s Program I.

Mastalerek was asked whether Donald Tusk would want to lead the European Commission, given his ambition to become Poland’s president and to participate in elections in about a year and a half.

“Donald Tusk has grown fond of European politics, and I suspect he would like to return there,”

– Mastalerek emphasized.

There is talk that he has little chance of becoming head of the European Commission, so it’s likely he would nominate someone else as commissioner or deputy head.

– he added.

He faces two paths: either call new elections and govern independently, or pursue the presidency. It’s worth remembering that he endured a major setback in 2005. After losing the presidential race, he faced a corrosive period in Polish politics. The late President Lech Kaczyński’s era left a lasting strain. It seems the dream of the presidency could act as a political prop for Donald Tusk and he is seriously weighing it as one option.

– Mastalerek assessed.

“He is experienced and highly capable. He does not rely on a single plan; he probably has three or four serious options, and this one seems very likely to him,”

– he added.

Mastalerek: It speaks well of the Prime Minister that he wanted to take on the mission of forming a government

You must be prepared for all scenarios, said the head of the President’s Office, Marcin Mastalerek, on Program I of Polish Radio. “It speaks well of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki that he wanted to take on the mission of forming a government,” he added. “It is commendable that the prime minister is taking on the challenge,” he emphasized.

When asked about Morawiecki’s government-building mission, he noted that “the Prime Minister was very willing – and this speaks well of him – to take on this mission.”

“You always have to fight to the end, to try,”

– Mastalerek added.

He noted that “the Prime Minister will have the opportunity to present the new Cabinet, which will differ from the previous one, and then he will be able to highlight both his and Prime Minister Beata Szydło’s achievements over the past eight years, as well as future plans.”

The chances of this occurring are not high, given that the Left, the Third Way, and the Citizens’ Coalition have signaled a joint vote.

– he noted.

However, not every political move is made with today in mind

– Mastalerek stated.

“It’s good that the Prime Minister is pushing forward,”

– he emphasized.

He explained that before the elections, Razem, a left-leaning party, announced that Donald Tusk would not become Prime Minister and that they would veto him. Today Razem is not part of the government, but — quite curiously to him — they are backing the cabinet.

– Mastalerek said. He added that “anything can happen, and one must be ready for all scenarios.”

Resignation of the Council of Ministers

On November 13, President Andrzej Duda accepted the resignation of the Council of Ministers, which will continue to perform its duties until a new government is formed, and then, in line with prior statements, he appointed Mateusz Morawiecki as Prime Minister.

The President will appoint the Prime Minister together with the other members of the Council of Ministers within fourteen days from the first Sejm meeting or the resignation’s acceptance, and will administer the oath to the newly appointed ministers.

According to the constitution, the prime minister presents the government’s program to the Sejm, along with a motion for a vote of confidence, within fourteen days of his appointment. The Sejm grants a vote of confidence by an absolute majority of votes in the presence of at least half of the legal number of deputies.

The Constitution provides that if the first step fails to form a government, the Sejm takes the initiative to form one; a candidate for prime minister can be nominated by a group of at least 46 MPs. The Sejm elects the Prime Minister by an absolute majority in the presence of at least half of the legal number of deputies.

The candidate from KO, PSL, Polski 2050 and the Left for Prime Minister is Donald Tusk.

“Marshal Hołownia will be the face of one big brawl in the Sejm.”

“Marshal of the Sejm Szymon Hołownia was portrayed by Donald Tusk, who has far more experience,” Marcin Mastalerek, head of the President’s Office, stated on Polish Radio’s Program I. When this media window closes, Hołownia will become the face of future Sejm turmoil, he added.

Today is Hołownia’s honeymoon. He was a great journalist and showman, a gifted media figure. He is leveraging his media window, but that period will soon end

– Mastalek said.

If Prime Minister Morawiecki fails to appoint a government, a new one will be formed and public attention will swing to that government, leaving Hołownia in the Sejm without a vice-chairman position in the largest parliamentary club, where seven and a half million people voted.

– Mastalerek noted, referring to the Sejm’s decision that did not elect Elżbieta Witek as Vice-President.

This means one big brawl. Hołownia will be at the center of a Sejm clash even bigger than in previous terms.

– Mastalerek said.

It is Hołownia’s role to worry about a Deputy Marshal who represents Law and Justice.

– he added.

According to the head of the President’s Office, Szymon Hołownia was “played by Donald Tusk, who has much more experience.”

When the honeymoon period ends, Hołownia will become the face of the quarrel, and everyone will remind him daily: “You are the Marshal of the Sejm, in which the largest parliamentary club is not in the Presidium, and there is no vice-chairman.” This is repeated like a mantra

– Mastalerek stated.

He noted that “this will trigger fighting in the Sejm.”

The biggest winner from this would be Prime Minister Donald Tusk, while the biggest loser might be Marshal Szymon Hołownia

– he assessed.

Head of the President’s Office: Poles did not vote to hold the PiS government accountable

Poles did not vote to hold the PiS government accountable; they want the future government to address the most important Polish issues, said Marcin Mastalerek on Polish Radio’s Program I.

Asked about PiS settlements advocated by Donald Tusk, Mastalek argued that voters were motivated by the future government’s handling of the most important Polish issues. He suggested these pledges were part of the PO campaign, unlike the coalition partner Third Way.

The Civic Platform promised them in the campaign. It did not win the election. If he rules, he would do so with the support of the Third Way, which has not announced any settlements. A third way had been announced

– Mastalek said.

If they start settling scores instead of governing, people will realize it and say, hey, we wanted something different.

– he added.

We want the government to tackle the most important Polish issues. There is war in Ukraine, and there are serious matters beyond our borders. Is this government today playing games in the Sejm, quarrelling, and staging settlements and shows?

– he emphasized.

This could end badly for the platform. It should be remembered that Poles voted similarly to three years ago for Rafał Trzaskowski. Change doesn’t come through this kind of rhetoric

– Mastalerek added.

When asked about coalition politicians’ claims that they viewed Rafał Trzaskowski as “their president,” Mastalerek called those words frivolous. They insult both Poles who voted in 2020 and Polish democracy. He hoped they would retract these words soon, because democracy remains strong in Poland

– he said.

He highlighted that KO politicians won in major cities and parliaments, and that record voter turnout was recorded in Poland’s last elections.

How can they claim there is no democracy in Poland? This rhetoric, he argued, was theirs, but the campaign is over. The need for responsibility

– he pointed out.

tkwl/PAP

— Mastalerek to Hołownia: Don’t let the much more experienced Tusk get involved in political games

— Mastalerek: “Go to the town hall, let President Trzaskowski swear you in.” What was he referring to? ‘It’s a matter of insulting Poland’

Source: wPolityce