The opposition should not abandon its plan entirely, yet it should not treat any single approach as a magical formula that guarantees victory. That was the message from former Civic Platform leader Grzegorz Schetyna during a Monday appearance on TVN24.
During the program, Schetyna was asked whether he would endorse a current joint opposition list to secure momentum for the whole camp.
He replied that he would refrain from outright dismissing a joint list, but he would not treat it as a guaranteed path to success. If there is no shared list, the election may tilt toward a loss for the opposition, he warned.
“We have been planting the seed among our voters about the value of a single, united list, to demonstrate that a single list can prevail against PiS. If that one list does not materialize, if the concept remains unrealized, opposition voters or anti-PiS voters may conclude that the factions cannot reconcile, that agreement is impossible, and that victory is out of reach”, Schetyna stated.
– He emphasized the need to consider broader coalition dynamics and not cling to a rigid, single-solution mindset.
“We began encouraging supporters to see the potential of one list as a path to victory, but we also recognize the risk of making this the sole criterion for success”, he explained. The idea, he added, is to show that unity matters while keeping channels open for other constructive formats if they prove effective.
“Seeking a practical two-coalition approach, not a fantasy”
In Schetyna’s view, the current campaign requires the opposition to earn the trust of voters by building real, workable relationships among its leaders. The emphasis is on tangible cooperation rather than boasting about a perfect, immediate win.
“We need to move beyond mere competition and toward a shared program that reflects common ground. Certain elements can become the basis for program cooperation in a future government. We should look for a pragmatic project, possibly two coalitions, that can unite the opposition”, Schetyna asserted.
When pressed about whether two separate lists, aligned with the Citizens’ Coalition and a left-leaning group, could participate together in elections, he conceded that the task would be formidable. Negotiating such a setup would be challenging in any scenario other than a single, broad opposition list.
Some voters from the KO party might resist a two-list arrangement because of historical experiences and lingering memories of past divisions, noted Schetyna. He recalled his own role in building a broad European coalition and acknowledged how emotionally charged that process was.
He also suggested that opposition leaders should reach a consensus on joint polling or research that all parties can trust. A credible study could reveal which alliance structures are most likely to yield favorable election outcomes and perhaps unlock a path to agreement that has eluded them so far.
“Perhaps that is the key to finding common ground”, the former PO head said, hinting that data-driven insight could help remove doubts among voters and leaders alike.
As the discussion progressed, questions arose about whether Donald Tusk would heed the advice of a former party chair and curb talk of a single opposition list. Schetyna’s remarks echo a broader memory of the European opposition coalition, a topic often revisited by PSL figures as well.
tkwl/PAP/TVN24
Source: wPolityce