On Saturday, the PSL congress re-elected Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz as the party president; Piotr Zgorzelski, deputy speaker of the Sejm, became the chairman of the Supreme Council. He defeated the current head of the Council, Waldemar Pawlak. The head of PSL also talked about new proposals at the congress, including: construction of metro in 10 cities.
Kosiniak-Kamysz – deputy prime minister, head of the Ministry of National Defense – was the only candidate for president; 946 (98.85%) delegates voted for him, 10 were against (1.04%) and one delegate abstained.
– Thank you for this strong mandate. I won't fail. I will do everything to lead the Polish People's Party to the best of my ability, with all my strength, with all my power, with all my skills, said Kosiniak-Kamysz immediately after the election.
Zgorzelski outclassed Pawlak
876 delegates took part in the vote for the head of the Supreme Council, of which 678 voted for Zgorzelski and 198 for Pawlak. The Congress will also elect members of the Supreme Council on Saturday.
At a joint press conference, Kosiniak-Kamysz and Zgorzelski thanked all the delegates who voted for them. – I would like to thank all the delegates who entrusted me with the position of chairman of the Supreme Council. This is truly a huge honor, responsibility and distinction – said Zgorzelski. He also thanked his opponent, Waldemar Pawlak, for his previous position as head of the Supreme Council.
– Today I can say that I will do everything to ensure that the demands I presented before the high congress are implemented – emphasized the Deputy Speaker of the Sejm.
Head of the Ministry of National Defense: It was PSL that decided on the shape of the government
Kosiniak-Kamysz said at the beginning of the congress that PSL is the party that decided “on this and not another shape of the current government.” – Because it was votes for us and our strategy of the Third Way coalition (the coalition of PSL and Poland 2050 – PAP) turned out to be fundamental in winning voters who left PiS but did not want to vote for the Platform. They chose us – emphasized the head of PSL.
Kosiniak-Kamysz also referred to reports of weakening support for the People's Party, recalling the results of the last parliamentary elections. – There was no shortage of those who said, like Ryszard Terlecki (PiS politician, former deputy speaker of the Sejm – PAP) at the last meeting before the 2023 elections: two percent, you will never be there again. Later, he had to bark back these words when he moved out of the deputy marshal's office after losing the elections. And it will be the same this time – assured Kosiniak-Kamysz.
The government is divided, but it is playing for one goal
The PSL leader emphasized that “different players play in the government team of the parliamentary coalition, but they must play for one goal.” – Not everything in these two years within the coalition was a one-goal game. Internal disputes were often more important than future strategies. This has changed in the last few weeks. The best proof of this is our agreement on difficult ideological issues, said the president of PSL.
Kosiniak-Kamysz pointed out that the current coalition is a group of four parties and – as he assessed – “it is the most difficult coalition that was created after 1989.”
– PSL tried to be accused of opportunism, of things that are not well perceived in politics. With our attitude, we step by step deny stereotypes that are untrue about our Party and ourselves. It will not always succeed, even despite many attempts over the last few years – added Kosiniak-Kamysz.
Kosinak-Kamysz: This gives the Civic Platform food for thought
The head of the PSL also noted that the Civic Platform had never governed without the PSL, which “should give them food for thought.” In his opinion, when PSL “is strong” and when it has high support, “it is much better” for the Civic Coalition than when only KO has high support in the polls.
Kosiniak-Kamysz devoted an important part of his speech at the congress to electoral strategies. – We know why we are in politics, we can say we disagree, that's why we are preparing to run in the next elections as the Polish People's Party – said the leader of the People's Party, causing a storm of applause. – The festival starts today, which will say differently that you will not be on the common list. We are not afraid of it, we persevered, we went through it, let's replay it and let's rewind the tape – he added.
PSL will start independently, but not alone
Kosiniak-Kamysz announced that PSL would look for friends in the elections, because – as he emphasized – “going alone does not mean going alone.” – We will invite friends to our lists, those we have been with for years – he added.
The leader of the People's Party also emphasized that the idea of self-government is in the PSL's DNA. – On her behalf, we demand a change to the unconstitutional law regarding term limits for municipal administrators. It is unconstitutional, dangerous, harmful to Poland and takes away the right to decide about the community itself – emphasized Kosiniak-Kamysz. – If this bill is not accepted, we will propose changes to the constitution. If we want to limit it for everyone, MPs and senators should start with themselves. I will sign this bill, he added.
Subway in every big city?
The president of PSL also presented several new program proposals. One of them is the construction of an underground railway in six, and ultimately ten, cities in Poland, “which will connect and provide transport services and will also be a place of refuge during the crisis.”
– Such a metro should be built in Warsaw, in addition to the existing one, in Łódź, Kraków, Wrocław, Poznań, Gdańsk, Białystok, Lublin – said Kosiniak-Kamysz.
The Deputy Prime Minister also announced that he would engage in talks with the opposition, the president and within the ruling coalition on the “constitutional reset”.
Kosiniak-Kamysz also announced that if the congress agrees, he will apply to the president on behalf of the Polish People's Party to award the Order of the White Eagle to Józef Zych, who is currently the honorary president of the Polish People's Party. (PAP)
ero/ nno/ pś/ agzi/
