Bogusław Sonik discussed his decision to step back from Civic Platform during an interview, also weighing in on the left-leaning shifts within Donald Tusk’s party. The former member, still serving as a Member of Parliament until his current term ends, chose to pause his direct involvement in Polish politics. He also commented on the possible beginnings of electoral lists for the PSL and Poland 2050.
He made clear that the decision was his own and that he did not intend to join the Third Way election slate. Sonik observes that Civic Platform has shifted to the left over time, a change he notes after two decades with the party. In his view, contemporary Polish politics is defined by heightened hostility and mutual antagonism. The rhetoric used by political actors mirrors this climate, and Civic Platform has not been immune to it. The leftward drift manifested in various ways: activist support from that spectrum, and the removal of independent voices on contentious issues like abortion from electoral lists. What once was a platform promoting unity among people with diverse perspectives now appears to be purging a segment of its own ranks for ideological conformity.
Sonik highlights the noticeable change in the party’s posture as a defining feature of its current trajectory. The faction that began with liberal economic principles, advocating lower taxes and smaller government, now seeks to appeal to a broader audience. This shift has strained the party’s coherence. In response to the United Right’s programmatic push, Civic Platform is perceived as attempting to mirror a similar discourse and promising to pursue roughly parallel goals with greater intensity.
That is how Sonik characterizes the transformation. He also questions the approach to a vote on a dam project at the border with Belarus. He expresses surprise at the vote against the Belarus border dam, arguing that the project would not be completed promptly anyway. He believes the migration issue tied to this project should be handled through cooperation among all parliamentary groups, similar to collaborations seen in Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia.
As a former member of the European Parliament, Sonik notes that cross-border issues benefit from a united approach rather than partisan sniping. The conversation then turns to the removal of Jana Shostak from the PO lists. Sonik reflects on the suggestion that her exclusion was tied to her political views, offering a nuanced view of how party decisions can slip into moments of carelessness. He also acknowledges that politicians may dramatically shift their positions on a slate, describing this as pragmatic evolution. He ponders whether Roman Giertych, previously opposed to abortion, might change his stance to become a PO candidate in the upcoming election.
Sonik emphasizes that political life demands compromises, yet some boundaries must not be crossed. He feels those boundaries were reached within the Platform, insisting he could not continue to operate in politics and in the media while remaining silent about his own stance. His remarks contribute to a broader discussion about integrity and candor in public service, where transparency matters as much as strategy.
In summarizing these thoughts, the interview paints a portrait of a veteran lawmaker balancing personal principles with party dynamics, and urging a more straightforward, accountable approach to public life. The conversation reflects ongoing debates about party identity, public trust, and the responsibility of elected representatives to voice clear positions even amid organizational shifts and strategic recalibrations.