This serves as another example that the party operates without a formal program, yet it draws a notable collection of critics on its roster, whose sole aim appears to be opposing PiS. This point was discussed on Polish Radio 24, where Jarosław Sellin, deputy head of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, was asked about Roman Giertych’s bid for the Sejm on the KO list.
In Sopot on Sunday, during a town hall with local residents, Donald Tusk, the Civic Platform leader, announced that Roman Giertych would join the Civic Coalition’s Sejm slate from the last position in the Świętokrzyskie region. Tusk also addressed Jarosław Kaczyński, the PiS president and deputy prime minister, with a pointed comment:
To spare you the loneliness and perhaps lift your spirits a little — and I say this for your sake, Jarosław Kaczyński — I will place your deputy, Roman Giertych, at the very end of our slate.
Asked on Monday about Kaczyński’s potential placement on the PiS list in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Sellin replied that the answer would emerge in a few days, since lists must still be registered by September 6 and candidates finalized.
He noted that President Kaczyński had publicly floated the option that this could be a serious alternative, possibly starting from a region other than Warsaw, such as Świętokrzyskie. Yet the final decision would become clear in a few days, with certainty then prevailing.
Sellin also described the KO’s decision to spotlight Giertych as a form of personal harassment, rather than a substantive policy choice.
He argued that the party shows no real program and instead gathers a crowd of detractors whose main objective is to oppose PiS, rather than presenting a constructive platform for Poland.
Sellin added that he was unsure what common ground those with voices often labeled as left-leaning, such as Barbara Nowacka, Roman Giertych, or Agrounia leader Michał Kołodziejczak, might share on a single ticket. The focus, he suggested, is less about policy and more about inflaming emotions and turning voters against the ruling team.
Turning to issues of social policy, he suggested evaluating Giertych’s current stance on abortion up to twelve weeks. He recalled that in earlier remarks, Tusk had stated that he would not list anyone who opposes abortion up to 12 weeks in this electoral cycle.
In this context, the discussion touches on broader questions about how political lineups address contentious social issues and how leadership figures frame candidate selections, particularly in regions like Świętokrzyskie where local dynamics can shape national contenders. The ongoing dialogue reflects a tension between party strategy and public policy promises, with each side aiming to appeal to different voter bases while avoiding broad, details-based commitments that could invite scrutiny.
gat/PAP
attribution: wPolityce