PiS president Jarosław Kaczyński spoke during the Independence March on November 11 about the need to create a common list of right-wing groups - not only in the elections to the Senate, but also to the Sejm.
We will work towards creating one big list, not only for the Senate, but also for the Sejm - said the PiS leader. He added that politicians of the "three Confederations" need to be convinced to adopt such a solution.
The proposal was met with clear criticism from the groups to which it was addressed.
Konfederacja: We will not be a lifeline for PiS
The chairman of the Confederation club, Grzegorz Płaczek, assessed that Kaczyński's proposals result from "growing nervousness" and unfavorable poll trends for PiS.
We do not intend to give up our identity just because someone lacks political support - he emphasized in an interview with PAP.
He emphasized that Confederation wants to remain an independent political force, and its voters expect an alternative to PO and PiS.
MP Bartłomiej Pejo from Nowa Nadzieja stated that a joint start with PiS is "absolutely out of the question." In his opinion, one list could reduce support for the broadly understood right, because some Confederation voters would not vote for PiS candidates.
Pejo pointed out, among others: on decisions made by Mateusz Morawiecki's government regarding relations with the European Union, the Green Deal and the Polish Deal. He also assessed that PiS and Konfederacja have electorates that are largely mutually exclusive.
Bosak: Such a list would be a gift for Tusk
The leader of the National Movement and deputy speaker of the Sejm, Krzysztof Bosak, also commented critically on the idea. In his opinion, a joint list of PiS, Confederation and Grzegorz Braun's environment would be "bad and ridiculous."
This is a gift for Donald Tusk, because such a list would certainly lose the election, losing voters who are not interested in voting for Braun, Kaczyński, or us - said Bosak in the "Rymanowski Live" program.
The politician believed that Kaczyński was trying to focus attention on himself and act as the patron of the entire right wing. He emphasized that New Hope and the National Movement were creating a strategic alliance under the banner of the Confederation of Freedom and Independence.
Braun and his party: 'Unrealistic' proposal
Representatives of the Confederation of the Crown of Poland also rejected the concept of one list to the Sejm.
Vice-chairman of the KKP branch, Roman Fritz, drew attention to Kaczyński's earlier position towards Grzegorz Braun. He recalled that the PiS leader had been ruling out an agreement with Braun's party for many months.
We don't know which Kaczyński is the real one, said Fritz.
The chairman of the KKP branch, Włodzimierz Skalik, described the proposal as "harmful, unrealistic" and serving the interests of PiS. He assessed that Kaczyński wanted to avoid the defeat of his own list and weaken competing right-wing circles.
Skalik, however, supported the conclusion of the Senate pact by the center-right parties.
Politicians of the Confederation and the KKP allow talks on cooperation in the Senate elections. Pejo told PAP that negotiations on the Senate pact were ongoing and expressed hope for an agreement.
This topic had already appeared earlier in the context of President Karol Nawrocki. In an interview for "Rzeczpospolita", he declared that he provided patronage to circles ready for dialogue with the head of state.
Czarnek: A wide list gives you a chance to win
Kaczyński's idea is defended by Przemysław Czarnek. The PiS vice president argues that building a broad, united right is not a new demand.
– Without a broad list of the united right, it will not be easy to win the elections against Tusk – said Czarnek.
He noted that such a list could not include people who - as he said - defend Red Army monuments, are sedevacantists (critics of religious freedom and ecumenism) or appear in the Russian media.
In the past, both Kaczyński and Czarnek have repeatedly sharply criticized Grzegorz Braun. After Braun's statements regarding Auschwitz-Birkenau, the PiS leader said that questioning the Holocaust is a "shameful historical lie" and an act to the detriment of Poland. Czarnek, in turn, assured in March that "200 percent" he does not see the possibility of Braun's participation in the government he is creating.
