In Sunday’s local elections in Poland, the Civic Coalition, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, secured the top position in nine of the sixteen provincial assemblies. However, to establish regional governments in those provinces, it must collaborate with the same political parties already in the national coalition government led by PM Tusk. Could there be hurdles in forming such alliances at the regional level? To delve deeper, TVP World interviewed Olgierd Annusewicz, a professor of Political Science at the University of Warsaw.
Annusewicz emphasized the contrasting dynamics at the state and local levels. “When it comes to the state-level,” he stated, “all parties, whether it be the Civic Coalition, the Third Way, or The Left, they all know that they actually have no other choice than forming a coalition.”
However, at the regional level, complexities arise as these parties know each other well “have their own histories in terms of successes and failures in cooperation.”
But he stressed that what makes the matter more important for the ruling bloc is the fact that we are just 57 days away from the European Parliament elections.
“…if the coalition that forms the Polish government wants to repeat the success from the elections that took place in October [Polish parliamentary elections- TVP World] and these last week [local elections- TVP World], they have to show that they are capable of cooperating with one another,” Annusewicz said.
This is why he anticipates “there won’t be many turbulences on the way to reach management coalitions in every region it is possible.”
He acknowledged emerging differences within the ruling bloc, notably on issues like the Abortion Law, but deemed it natural for such a coalition government.
“If they [coalition parties-TVP World] had the same opinion on every issue, they would probably form one political party not a coalition,” he said.
However, at the regional level, complexities arise as these parties know each other well “have their own histories in terms of successes and failures in cooperation.”
But he stressed that what makes the matter more important for the ruling bloc is the fact that we are just 57 days away from the European Parliament elections.
“…if the coalition that forms the Polish government wants to repeat the success from the elections that took place in October [Polish parliamentary elections- TVP World] and these last week [local elections- TVP World], they have to show that they are capable of cooperating with one another,” Annusewicz said.
This is why he anticipates “there won’t be many turbulences on the way to reach management coalitions in every region it is possible.”
He acknowledged emerging differences within the ruling bloc, notably on issues like the Abortion Law, but deemed it natural for such a coalition government.
“If they [coalition parties-TVP World] had the same opinion on every issue, they would probably form one political party not a coalition,” he said.
Source: TVP World
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