Policymakers in Poland are discussing a formal agreement on how the Sejm’s chairman should rotate among coalition partners. Paweł Kukiz, the leader of Kukiz’15, cautions that without a clear and written understanding, coalition partners risk being treated like a lawnmower rather than a rotating chair. This comment followed Piotr Zgorzelski, a PSL figure, who in 2020 suggested that rotation could resemble a mowing pattern rather than a defined deputy chair position for the Sejm.
During coalition talks that included the Civic Coalition, the Third Way, and the Left, Kukiz referred to the proposal of a rotating chairmanship as a potential arrangement. A comparable mechanism was briefly discussed in the 2019–2023 period when Kukiz’15 exited the PSL list, and the deputy marshal role would alternate between Kukiz’15 and the People’s Party. The idea has resurfaced as parties strategize over power-sharing structures for the next parliamentary term.
Verbal agreement
What is at stake, according to Kukiz, is a verbal understanding that may mirror past arrangements. He recalled his own deal with PSL, implying that a non-written agreement could end under conditions similar to that previous contract in 2019. He noted the past pattern where Kukiz’15 eventually left the KP-PSL parliamentary club after disagreements over leadership roles.
At that time, the deputy marshal seat would rotate between PSL and Kukiz’15. When a reporter asked Deputy Marshal Piotr Zgorzelski about when a member from Kukiz’15 might replace a farmer, his reply suggested the idea of a rotating system carried a risk of becoming a simple mowing arrangement. Kukiz emphasized the need for a formal written agreement to govern any rotation of the Sejm chairmanship.
He also warned that under Polish law, enforcement of such a political agreement might be limited. Those who sign an understanding of rotation should be prepared for a range of scenarios, from a true rotating marshal to being treated as a temporary placeholder with fluctuating influence.
- added.
Rotation
In public remarks, Civic Platform delegates floated the possibility of introducing rotation for the Sejm chairmanship. Party spokesperson Jan Grabiec suggested on television that currently observed rotational practices within the European Parliament could provide a useful blueprint. He noted that if four groups form the governing coalition, compromise might be necessary, and rotation could be accepted as a viable option.
Grabiec stated that rotation could be considered, even if not immediately implemented, as a real possibility. He underscored that it remains one of several avenues under consideration as the coalition contours are finalized.
Meanwhile, PO Secretary General Marcin Kierwiński echoed similar sentiments during a broadcast on Polsat News. He described rotation as a very likely scenario and indicated a parliamentary push to align Sejm practices with Western democratic standards already in force in the European Parliament. He also acknowledged that the final decisions are still pending and that several parties, including PSL, Polska 2050, and the Left, have shown interest in this option.
The broader political discussion invites weighing the implications for governance, transparency, and stability as coalition partners balance ambitions with the need for coherent leadership within the Sejm. As talks continue, observers anticipate more positions and details to emerge regarding how a rotating chair could operate in practice and what safeguards would ensure continuity and accountability.