Opposition voices are pressing the president to name Donald Tusk as prime minister without delay. They recall historical parallels, noting that after 1989, Jaruzelski understood the public mood but handed the task of forming a government to Kiszczak. The aim is to prevent a repetition of that path, as observed by KO MP Paweł Kowal in an interview with TVN24, who spoke as a historian about lessons from the past.
So that the president does not follow the same path
Opposition figures already project victory and speak of forming a government comprising KO, Third Way, and Left. They remind the public that the president’s decision matters greatly, while urging him to appoint Donald Tusk as prime minister at the earliest opportunity in a straightforward, pragmatic manner.
KO MP Paweł Kowal drew on historical comparisons during a discussion on TVN24. In the One on One program, journalist Marcin Zaborski asked about remarks from a PiS parliamentarian who claimed the president would block Tusk from becoming prime minister in the new government.
I have said it before and I will say it again as a historian. The president has a chance to meet Poland’s expectations. Poles desire political change, and the president serves the country, not a single faction or past family of power.
— Kowal stressed.
The opposition politician broadened the referenced historical analogies.
After the 1989 elections, Jaruzelski understood that people had grown tired of the communist era, yet he entrusted the government’s formation to Kiszczak. The point is to avoid a repetition of that pattern, Kowal stated, adding that he is warning the head of state. He suggested Andrzej Duda will surely hear him, though questions remain about whether Kowal’s claim to speak as a historian affects his credibility. There is also a view that the president has, until now, acted as a conduit for PiS and Jarosław Kaczyński, and that he might now act with more independence, potentially shaping events rather than simply following others’ wishes.
The Constitution implicitly assumes that the president acts with judgment, conscience, and an awareness of how crucial it is to establish a stable government with broad parliamentary and societal support. This is a matter of public interest, not party interest, according to the discussion.
— emphasized a parliamentarian. The debate continues on whether a government united mainly by opposition sentiment but divided on detailed issues can endure stability and deliver on policy, including social transfers beyond ideological lines.
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What about teacher pay increases?
During the campaign, the Civic Coalition led by Donald Tusk touted pay raises for teachers, but some coalition members have signaled reservations about the scope. Kowal faced a direct question about whether academic instructors should be included in the promised raise.
They concern teachers across the education system, Kowal indicated after considering the issue. When pressed about whether academic staff are covered by the 30 percent raise, he again referenced the pledge to all teachers but paused before confirming specifics for higher education instructors.
“I’ve already told you everything,” Kowal replied when asked again.
“No, you didn’t tell me everything. A simple question. Do academic teachers, like those in schools, count on the promised 30 percent wage increase?”
— Zaborski pressed.
“In my view, yes,” Kowal stated. When asked whether the proposal also includes academic teachers, he answered simply, “Yes.”
He then urged the journalist to move on to the next topic, adding, “I said what I could and should have said.”
— Kowal concluded.
Funds from KPO
Asked whether KPO funds could reach Poland as early as next April, the KO MP suggested that it could even come sooner. He noted that Ursula von der Leyen had proposed – and the plan had already been agreed upon – that the legislative process should begin, with the remainder depending on political trust. This, he argued, makes the timeline feasible.
He stressed that political trust signals room for maneuver. He reiterated that the European Commission’s stance had shifted and that his own group, by voting on resolutions in the European Parliament about Poland, also influenced changes in EC regulations. Some legal adjustments would be necessary, but there should be no delay caused by political pressure. The parliamentary majority in Poland would guarantee the reforms would be completed.
— emphasized the KO parliamentarian.
The expectation is that the European Commission will not delay payments.
— he added.
Following these statements, it becomes clearer that concerns about rule of law or the priority of programmatic goals may take a back seat to efforts aimed at removing PiS from power.
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aja/TVN24
Source: wPolityce