Political scientist Professor Antoni Dudek forecasts a tumultuous relationship with Polish President Andrzej Duda, as the Civic Platform (PO) continues its firm opposition stance.
In an interview with DoRzeczy.pl, Professor Antoni Dudek discussed the post-election landscape of Polish politics, particularly the strong anti-PiS rhetoric of the former Polish opposition and the lack of self-reflection within the United Right camp.
On the topic of Civic Platform’s continuous strong anti-PiS attacks, including their promise to take the head of the National Bank of Poland to court and to start inquiry committees in the parliament, the academic observed that the party is not likely to change its course.
“The tone was set clear when no PiS member was chosen for the presidium of the Sejm or Senate,” he said. He expects the Civic Platform (PO) to maintain its tough line, leading to stormy relations with President Andrzej Duda, characterized by sharp attacks and potential vetoes of new majority bills. According to Dudek, the hardline of the PO will continue.
Dudek mentioned that no signals have been given by the party leaders, including Jarosław Kaczyński, indicating that a period of reflection after the election has begun. The professor suggested that Law and Justice (PiS) is currently playing a game of pretense, which will likely conclude with the appointment of Donald Tusk as prime minister.
“This will take another two or three weeks. When Tusk’s government is formed, I expect a deeper evaluation from Chairman Kaczyński and others,” said the academic.
Dudek also commented on PiS’s hardened stance towards the European Union, seeing it as a unifying element after the party’s electoral defeat. He said he believes that while this approach is the main strategy of Kaczyński for the coming weeks and months, it might not be sufficient due to the slow pace of processes within the EU.
“The majority that adopted the resolution in the European Parliament is not large. The December summit of the Union is unlikely to support this; everyone will probably be waiting for the next European Parliament elections, which we have in June next year. The mills of the Union grind very slowly, therefore the consolidation for PiS will be a slow process, if it happens at all,” said Dudek.
