Everything is on track in Senate Pact negotiations
Negotiations on the Senate Pact continued without interruption, with another meeting slated for Tuesday. Politicians from the PSL faction voiced confidence in the process in a interview, insisting that progress remains steady and that the goal is to bring negotiations to a conclusion.
READ MORE: INSIDE THE SENE TE PACT. Commentators note that some groups question whether the PO and its partners are aiming to present a single list, while others stress the need for continued dialogue.
“Everything is on schedule”
Robert Biedroń, co-chair of the New Left, stated on the program Tłit WP that talks on the Senate Pact have not collapsed; a leader cited a shift in polls among other opposition factions as a factor.
The commitment to the Senate Pact remains intact. Dariusz Wieczorek, a left-leaning negotiator, told PAP that talks have not broken off and that discussions will proceed in a normal cadence. He noted, however, that meetings are occurring as planned and will continue on Thursday, emphasizing that everything is under control.
The left-leaning negotiator added that the pact talks would continue with the same delegation and that other participants would include Marcin Kierwiński from KO, Piotr Zgorzelski from PSL, Michał Kobosko from Poland 2050, and Szymon Hołownia’s movement, among others. He stressed that occasional shifts may occur, yet the process remains active and ongoing.
Wieczorek indicated that a leaders’ meeting among the participating groups would be scheduled soon and that preparations were under way for the leaders to set a date. He did not rule out a potential session next week, noting that the exact timing would depend on the agendas of the leaders.
He expressed a desire for a swift path forward, adding that about 80 constituencies had been agreed upon, while some major voivodeships such as Wielkopolska and Mazowsze still faced questions about the distribution of seats.
Ultimately, the decision on constituency allocations rests with the leaders, given the large number of districts and competitive candidates. This remains a political choice to be finalized by those at the helm.
KO calls for a reevaluation of districts
According to PAP, the Civic Coalition has requested a review of districts that could be assigned to PSL and Polska 2050 (districts 7 and 10-11 respectively), in light of current polls that show limited backing for the newer formations that joined the Third Way. The left would keep its current tally at around ten potential seats.
When asked about these points, Wieczorek dismissed the moves as unnecessary. He explained that monthly discussions typically involve verification in light of new Third Way developments, but such changes are unlikely to produce major shifts.
PSL spokesperson Miłosz Motyka echoed a similar stance, underscoring that talks on the Senate Pact have not broken down and remain active. He expressed optimism that outstanding issues would be resolved soon, highlighting that the Pact is viewed as the best vehicle to counter PiS in the Senate races and to preserve the opposition’s majority.
Motyka noted that the pace of discussions might have slowed at times, attributing any delays to possibly incomplete information from certain negotiating participants. He framed it as an internal matter within the left bloc.
“Biedroń’s moves raise questions”
PSL deputy Marek Sawicki also affirmed that negotiations were ongoing. He suggested Biedroń might be trying to accelerate certain elements, but stressed that there were no substantive disputes about ending the Senate Pact project. Sawicki remarked that Brussels influences might color some perspectives, a sentiment he does not share.
According to PAP, the parties appeared close to agreement, though some districts remained contested. An unofficial source familiar with the talks indicated that Biedroń’s assertion about unresolved issues was accurate to an extent, but that negotiations had not been halted. The source suggested Biedroń may have aimed to set expectations ahead of an upcoming meeting.
Another participant in the discussions urged speeding up the process, re-evaluating positions, and reaching a prompt agreement. In late February, representatives from KO, Poland 2050, New Left, PSL and the Local Government Movement Yes! For Poland signed a declaration to form the Senate Pact. The arrangement proposed shared candidacies across constituencies, allocated proportionally based on poll results and the strength of each party’s standing in particular districts, prioritizing current opposition senators for potential inclusion under the Pact.
The original Senate Pact, concluded before the 2019 parliamentary elections, united the Civic Coalition, the SLD election bloc, and the PSL under a common strategy to field a single candidate per district against PiS. The opposition secured a majority in the Senate with 51 of 100 seats as a result.
End of note from PAP sources.