The platform appears constrained by a visible ceiling, a boundary that many observers say limits its reach. Neither the left nor Catholic voters fully trust its direction. Politician Donald Tusk is traveling across the country, meeting people, yet public polling remains stubbornly static, according to historian and lecturer Mieczysław Ryba of the Catholic University of Lublin.
wPolityce.pl asks: as a Catholic who seeks to follow the Decalogue and believes in core Christian values, can one vote for PiS or the Confederation? Is Donald Tusk presenting a new face for the Civic Platform?
Prof. Mieczyslaw Ryba (KUL) notes that, in principle, the leader of the Civic Platform (PO) advocates a notably progressive stance on abortion. He recalls that defending life is a central moral teaching of the Church. Tusk frequently discusses topics like same sex relationships and the place of religion in schools. These themes, Ryba argues, stray from traditional Catholic expectations of a politician who claims to be Catholic. The former prime minister seems to promote a personal theology that prioritizes emotion over church guidance. It should not be forgotten that Tusk’s voters include Catholics, which means the PO must appeal to a broad audience, though it cannot claim to represent all traditions. A recent vote on a resolution defending Saint John Paul II illustrated this tension.
Only one member of the KO supported the resolution, while others stayed silent, aware that opposing it could clash with the values of much of their base. Some members appear to be shifting in search of a broader New Left coalition while trying to keep their traditional supporters. Observers note that the Women’s Strike movement left a lasting impression, but not everyone has radicalized. A sizable portion of the public remains aligned with Church teachings, including some PO voters who seem surprised by their party’s current trajectory.
What happened to the Civic Platform, once rooted in the ideas of Saint John Paul II in its 2001 ideological framework?
The PO is wary of competition from rivals and hopes to accommodate the New Left, with some politicians perhaps relying more on Brussels’ sanctions than on mobilizing their own voters. The party’s slogans have shifted since the early days of its conservative anchor era, suggesting a lack of a fixed ideology. The platform appears to swing toward various directions, and observers question whether it truly holds a clear stance on fundamental issues. The leadership team travels and adapts, but the polling shows a gap between rhetoric and support.
Could a leadership change alter the dynamics? Might Rafał Trzaskowski push PO toward a strictly left liberal orientation and refresh the brand?
There is debate about whether Trzaskowski and Tusk differ significantly. In the past, Trzaskowski was seen as more pro-LGBT, while Tusk was viewed differently. Today, both seem comparable in many respects. A leadership refresh often brings a sense of novelty. The ousting of Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska in favor of Trzaskowski is cited as an example, though parliamentary elections operate on their own logic and the anti-PiS bloc potentially united against Andrzej Duda. It remains unclear whether a similar dynamic would occur again. What is certain is that Donald Tusk does not relish the role of long-term front figure.
Can the Civic Platform still be described as Christian Democratic in essence?
Only to the extent that the CDU embodies Christian Democratic values. The PO’s name does not imply a Christian Democratic program, and within the Catholic Reformed Church some view it as a revolutionary version of Christian Democracy, which diverges from traditional Christian Democratic ideals.
Concluding remark
Conversation concluded.