Since his return to Polish politics, Donald Tusk has been speaking quite consistently — and rather coolly — about the parliamentary left, with his rhetoric in recent days becoming even harsher.
Tusk, along with other Civic Platform (PO) politicians, are claiming the left has not been clear on whether it intends to cooperate with Law and Justice (PiS), especially after the elections.
“I will continue to intensively appeal to all voters — including those of the left — to not vote for any party that would result in the continuation of Kaczyński and PiS rule,” he said for liberal television network TVN.
In this manner, the Civic Platform leader is attempting to undermine the left’s credibility as a viable opposition that can defeat PiS in an election.
PO is carefully observing what is happening in Hungary where the entire opposition formed an alliance.
Left-wing leaders however have hit back at Tusk’s remarks, with the New Left’s deputy leader, Paulina Piechna-Więckiewicz, describing them as scandalous and warned that they weaken the opposition.
One can safely assume that the party politics will continue until opposition leaders reach an agreement on the configuration in which they intend to fight the election.
PO is carefully observing, for example, what is happening in Hungary where the entire opposition formed an alliance, with PO deputy leader Cezary Tomczyk revealing his party will even be sending a special observer to Hungary during the election campaign.
The negotiating position of different political forces prior to the upcoming Polish elections will depend entirely on their political strength and their perception of that strength.
From this perspective, it is hardly surprising that PO has chosen the path it has — it wants to have sufficient political leverage at the crucial moment when it comes to choosing election lists, believing it will hold all the cards.
And the closer we come to the election, the more every politician in the Sejm is thinking about it.
