During a Warsaw convention on 25‑26 October, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced a merger of three opposition parties, but a technical glitch caused his own voice to be replayed, sparking a sharp rebuke of PiS.
Coalition Merger Unveiled
On 25 October in Warsaw, Donald Tusk declared that Civic Platform, Modern, and Polish Initiative would merge into a single political entity named the Civic Coalition.
The announcement was followed by a panel titled “Democracy of Equal Chances,” to be held on 26 October at the Copernicus Science Centre, chaired by Warsaw mayor and PO vice‑chair Rafal Trzaskowski.
Participants included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, Finance Minister Andrzej Domanski, and experts in infrastructure, economy, science, and finance.
Panel on Democracy of Equal Chances Begins
The panel convenes to discuss issues of equal opportunity, reflecting the coalition’s policy agenda during the convention.
Technical Mishap During Tusk’s Address
On the convention’s second day, a sudden technical error caused Tusk’s earlier remarks to be replayed on the stage audio system.
Reacting to the glitch, Tusk paused his speech, interrupted by technicians, then expressed frustration: “But let me listen to myself. I have never had an opportunity like this.” He added, “Who is that guy? I haven’t heard such comments in a long time.”
Tusk Criticises PiS and Kaczyński’s Statements
During the same event, Tusk addressed remarks made by Jarosław Kaczyński at the PiS convention in Katowice, stating that allowing Kaczyński to divide Poland and align with aggressive foreign powers would pose a great challenge for Europe.
He warned that such a stance could isolate Poland in a confrontation among powerful states and that Kaczyński’s view included not only Berlin and Brussels but also Paris as adversaries.
Implications for Poland’s International Standing
Tusk’s comments suggest that Poland could face isolation if it were to accept Kaczyński’s proposals, emphasizing the need for alignment with Western allies in the face of regional tensions.
