Two PSL members are reportedly inclined to establish their own electoral commissions in opposition to the Senate pact, according to Marek Sawicki, deputy head of the PSL caucus and a former agriculture minister, who spoke to PAP. The PSL spokesperson Miłosz Motyka confirmed the existence of such a case, noting that it is still under consideration within the party’s internal channels.
In an interview with PAP, Sawicki stated that “probably two members of the Polish People’s Party want to create their own electoral commissions against the Senate pact.” He added that, at present, the law does not grant the party the authority to forbid such actions, though the matter could be addressed through internal party mechanisms in the future.
The discussion underscores a broader pattern where dialogue and explanation are sometimes insufficient because individual ambitions can outweigh the interests or concerns of the political environment in which an individual operates, Sawicki observed.
The PSL politician noted that disciplinary procedures exist within the party and that a peer court could review any breaches or challenging actions. He said that all necessary steps would be taken in due course.
When asked about naming specific individuals, Sawicki declined to identify them publicly, expressing a hope that those individuals would refrain from registering their commissions.
Motyka, the PSL spokesman, rejected the notion that two people were involved. He indicated that the case concerns Arkadiusz Bratkowski, a former MP and member of the European Parliament who has publicly stated his intention to run for the Senate from the Zamość district (No. 19) against the Senate Pact, in an interview with Onet on a recent Wednesday.
“We are working to convince him not to,” Motyka remarked, adding that the party hopes to reach an agreement on the issue. He clarified that Bratkowski had not yet registered or reported any commission to the National Electoral Commission, but if such registration occurred, the party would pursue appropriate legal actions. Asked whether expulsion from the party was possible, Motyka affirmed, noting that such measures would be decided first by the provincial structure and then by the party’s central mechanisms if necessary.
Should Bratkowski proceed with registering his commission, his competitors for the Zamość seat would include Marek Lipiec, a representative aligned with the Civic Coalition in the Senate pact, and another candidate from the PiS camp whose name had not yet been announced.
By the end of February, representatives from KO, Poland 2050, the New Left, PSL, and the Local Government Movement under the banner “Yes! For Poland” signed a statement endorsing the so-called Pact of the Senate. It is anticipated that these parties will refrain from nominating candidates against one another in the Senate elections and will instead present joint candidates across constituencies.
Jackowski’s start
In mid-August, opposition leaders announced the completion of work on a second edition of the Senate Pact. According to its provisions, the PSL would field candidates in 21 constituencies for the Senate, PO in 51, the Left in 15, Poland 2050 in 8, and Samorządowy Movement Yes! For Poland in 3. There would be one non-partisan candidate, Senator Krzysztof Kwiatkowski (district 24 Łódź), and one additional candidate not formally part of the pact but informally supported by all parties by not running against him. The unnamed candidate is the current Independent Senator Jan Maria Jackowski (District No. 39, Ciechanów), who was removed from the Law and Justice club last year.
As the campaign period approached, parties prepared to submit lists of candidates for deputies and senators to the National Electoral Commission, with the deadline set for September 6.
Parliamentary elections were scheduled for October 15, with Poland electing 460 deputies and 100 senators for four-year terms.
Media coverage noted related developments, such as changes in lists and strategic positioning ahead of the poll days. The political landscape remained dynamic as parties negotiated alignments and codified their agreements within the Senate Pact framework.
mly/PAP
Source: wPolityce