Senior Marshal and the question of power
What can a senior marshal actually do? Beyond directing the work of the new Sejm, rumors circle about the scope of influence attached to this role. The Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza notes that the position, in theory, could be used to stage a political upheaval. Journalists Paweł Wroński and Agata Kondzińska from the editorial team on Czerska Street add that President Andrzej Duda might already have a candidate in mind for the senior marshal, though the name has not been disclosed.
Marshal Senior and the coup scenario
President Andrzej Duda reportedly has a list of candidates for the senior chair of the new Sejm. The head of state could appoint someone among the most senior lawmakers, with the power to inaugurate the chamber and oversee the election of the Sejm’s speaker.
The opposition is pressing to assert influence quickly, while the governing party coalition continues to seek a stable majority. The president has not yet delegated the formal task of forming a government, and there is an aim to convene the first session of the new Sejm on November 13. The senior marshal is expected to preside over that opening procedure.
The role includes swearing in deputies and guiding the initial proceedings to elect the Sejm’s speaker. Some voices in the media have warned that a senior marshal could theoretically trigger a constitutional crisis or a prolonged interruption of the session.
According to Gazeta Wyborcza, these concerns reflect ongoing political speculation rather than imminent action. The newspaper notes that the president has broad latitude in selecting the senior marshal, and there is no fixed deadline requiring an immediate announcement. Historically, such appointments are commonly announced about a week before the Sejm’s opening session, which this year would point to November 6 as a likely date.
RMF FM has reported a candidate list including four lawmakers from PiS: Jarosław Kaczyński, Ryszard Terlecki, Antoni Macierewicz, and Krzysztof Tchórzewski; two from KO: Bogusław Wołoszański and Zofia Czernow; and Third Way member Tadeusz Samborski. Gazeta Wyborcza, citing its sources, suggested that Macierewicz, Kaczyński, or Terlecki are unlikely choices for the role, while Terlecki’s chances were described as high, with some caveats from interlocutors of the Sejm’s sphere.
Rumor, political science fiction, or real risk?
In formal terms, the senior marshal’s duties are modest: inaugurate the term, administer oaths, and oversee the election of the speaker. Yet discussions about occasional prerogatives have become a topic of public fascination, with some outlets noting that a ceremonial message, such as the one once delivered by Kornel Morawiecki, has become a customary feature of these moments.
Does the idea of a coup carry weight in constitutional terms? Journalists from Gazeta Wyborcza point out that such rumors are a recurring feature around the intake of a new Sejm, more an element of political theater than a concrete plan. The overall sentiment among commentators is that this remains a piece of political fiction rather than a real blueprint.
The scenario often imagined involves the senior marshal opening the session, taking an oath, and then declaring an indefinite recess before other deputies are sworn in. The constitutional framework says an unsworn member is not a parliamentarian, and thereby cannot convene the chamber. In such a sequence, the senior marshal would be the only sworn member, a situation that raises dramatic questions but lacks a clear path to legality in normal circumstances.
Historical echoes and cautionary notes
Former President Bronisław Komorowski is recalled discussing a 2007 episode with Professor Zbigniew Religa, who then served as a PiS deputy and was named senior marshal by the president at that time. Komorowski recounts a moment when the PiS faction sought a strategic pause, extending a formal break in the session. He recalls perceiving it at the moment as a tactic to delay and later acknowledging that such moves can, in fact, paralyze parliamentary work.
These reflections are often cited when debating how a senior marshal might influence the pace and outcomes of parliamentary business. While the prospect of a constitutional coup remains a rhetorical possibility, observers emphasize that any such action would be subject to constitutional constraints and political counterplay in the Sejm and beyond.
Interest groups and political enthusiasts continue to speculate about what the upcoming Sejm session might bring if a senior marshal is appointed from among the opposition or from within the governing party. In the end, the question of how much power the role truly wields hinges on both formal duties and the political dynamics surrounding it. The broader public remains attentive to every hint and rumor, seeking to understand how a single appointment can shape the early days of the new Sejm.
The unfolding story invites readers to consider how ceremonial roles intersect with real political leverage in Poland’s parliamentary system. It also raises questions about how such dynamics resonate with audiences outside Poland in the context of similar constitutional frameworks and electoral cultures.