Morawiecki rules out joint right-wing list with Kaczyński, says Rozwój Plus runs alone

Morawiecki rules out a joint list

Mateusz Morawiecki, former prime minister and leader of Rozwój Plus, said on Friday, 13 November, that his party will contest the parliamentary election alone. He spoke at a press conference during the 5th Poznań Economic Congress, held at the Poznań International Fair, after being asked whether Rozwój Plus would consider a shared list with PiS, Konfederacja and Konfederacja Korony Polskiej (KKP) led by Grzegorz Braun. The question followed a proposal from PiS chairman Jarosław Kaczyński, who told Onet during the Independence March that he would seek one list of the right and talks on a joint run for both the Senate and the Sejm with the three Confederations. The presidents of Poland and Slovakia had also taken part in the congress on Thursday.

Asked about that proposal, Morawiecki was categorical:

“We are going to the elections alone, of course. We are only now building our recognition in society.”

He said he saw the incentives from the PiS leadership to run together with Braun and the existing Confederation, but that Rozwój Plus takes a completely different approach. He expects the number of voters unwilling to back KO or KKP to grow, and he described his party as a good alternative to Prime Minister Donald Tusk and to Braun, whom he called chairman.

“You don't want Tusk, you don't want Braun, choose Rozwój Plus.”

Morawiecki also argued that there is no longer a hegemon on the Polish right, as there once was. He said he believes Rozwój Plus could become a notable surprise at the next election in terms of its parliamentary strength.

Poll puts coalition arithmetic in focus

Morawiecki was also asked about a United Surveys by IBRiS poll for Wirtualna Polska, published on Friday, which suggests that the parties forming the current parliamentary majority would lose power if elections were held now. In the 460-seat Sejm, the poll gives Koalicja Obywatelska (KO) 194 seats, PiS 90, Konfederacja 80, KKP 45, Lewica 28 and Rozwój Plus 23.

KO194

PiS90

Konfederacja80

KKP45

Lewica28

Rozwój Plus23

KO

194 seats

PiS

90 seats

Konfederacja

80 seats

KKP

45 seats

Lewica

28 seats

Rozwój Plus

23 seats

Data from the article text

Wirtualna Polska calculates that KO and Lewica together would hold 222 seats, nine short of the 231 needed for an absolute majority. It says Rozwój Plus would decide who governs. A right-wing majority of 238 seats, which WP says would include Rozwój Plus alongside PiS, Konfederacja and Braun's party, would be possible, while KO and Lewica with Rozwój Plus would reach 245.

Confederation rejects one list

Confederation politicians also oppose a single list. Krzysztof Bosak, deputy speaker of the Sejm and one of the party's leaders, told Bogdan Rymanowski that a joint list of Konfederacja, PiS and KKP would be a gift for Donald Tusk. He argued that such a list would lose voters who are interested in neither Braun, Kaczyński nor his own party.

“Such a list would certainly lose the election, losing voters who are not interested in voting for Braun, Kaczyński or us.”

Morawiecki's answer leaves Rozwój Plus outside the joint list that Kaczyński proposed. He gives as the reason that the party is still building its recognition among voters.