Some KO politicians are loudly urging the president to bypass the winning party and instantly hand the task of building the government to Donald Tusk. They argue that the KO+TD+NL coalition is the only genuine coalition in the new Sejm. I want to highlight another real coalition that would bring greater benefits to Poland.
The Third Way, which achieved an unexpectedly strong result, now has a remarkable opening to end the Polish-Polish conflict: a struggle that harms Polish democracy, weakens the state, and unsettles citizens. Wouldn’t it be better to live in a country where political forces can cooperate on the international stage, reach agreements on issues central to Poland’s purpose, and where people praise a well-functioning Polish democracy both at home and abroad? A rhetorical question, perhaps.
This requires recognizing that Polish democracy works impressively. The recent elections showed that mutual accusations were often exaggerated, heated, and driven by negative emotions, and that both sides made political missteps. No party can claim complete innocence when it comes to the senseless and destructive Polish-Polish war.
For that reason, the Third Way contemplates forming a coalition government with Law and Justice. A government that will continue many of the positive measures associated with PiS and that will ensure that the problematic issues that surfaced during the PiS administration do not recur. Most Poles who want peace, free from quarrels and bad feelings, would welcome this approach. It would also appeal to Third Way voters who were drawn by the vision of harmony and an end to the PiS–anti-PiS clash. Pursuing this path would fulfill a promise and represent a genuine third way.
It should be noted that forming a KO+TD+NL government would not finish the Polish-Polish war, but would begin its next phase. Without bridging the PiS–Anti-PiS divide, there can be no real end to a conflict that divides Polish society in two. The Third Way sees a truly extraordinary opportunity here.
Reality check. It is clear that the odds of the Third Way choosing this option are small. Blindness, shortsightedness, and a lack of true vision may prevail, and some statements reveal a troubling degree of stubbornness. Yet there is a real possibility that the Third Way will find this view useful in negotiations. It is obvious that a coalition with PiS would significantly strengthen the country’s negotiating position. It appears the leaders of the Third Way did not fully consider this before the election, just as they perhaps did not anticipate a scenario where they, rather than the Confederacy, would hold the cards on which everything hinges. That situation, contrary to polling, could arise once the possibility of a PiS coalition is presented or discussed by TD leaders as a viable option.
In practical terms, TD leaders could first commit to participate in negotiations as a unified bloc, with pre-agreed demands. This would substantially bolster their negotiating power. If negotiations unfold in this manner, and it is not only plausible but highly likely, there is a real chance that the frictions and talks could lead to a scenario that marks a true turning point in the Polish-Polish war. A decisive shift could emerge from a careful, strategic bargaining process.
READ: Why didn’t PiS win a majority? Could it have won? If you switch to the opposition, it is not worth losing your temper [Citation: wPolityce]