Polish Peasant Party presented President Karol Nawrocki with legislative package including controversial relationship and term limit reforms.
PSL Presents “Folder of Polish Affairs”
On Thursday morning, President Karol Nawrocki met with representatives of parliamentary clubs and circles. All formations except New Left and Civic Coalition accepted the invitation. Polish Peasant Party parliamentarians presented the head of state with a “folder of Polish affairs,” a package of legislative projects important to the party. Among these are agricultural issues, including the “Active Farmer” project, as well as the peasant-backed elimination of two-term limits in local government and projects concerning the status of nearest person.
Controversial Proposals Scheduled for February
Both proposals – concerning informal partnerships and eliminating term limits for mayors and city presidents – are scheduled to be considered at the next Sejm session (February 10-13). The PSL project to eliminate two-term limits in local government has already passed both readings in the Sejm and was scheduled for a vote in early January, but stalled in the Sejm due to lack of consensus within the coalition (Left and Poland 2050 have reservations). However, the matter is expected to return in February. Deputies will also begin work on the government project of the law on the status of nearest person and the project introducing its provisions. The new regulations were initiated by Katarzyna Kotula, the equality-focused minister from New Left, but the final version of the projects is the result of a compromise with the peasants, explaining PSL’s interest in this issue.
Nawrocki Remains Skeptical
Therefore, PSL deputies sought the president’s support for both proposed changes on Thursday. – We didn’t hear a hard ‘no’ – the peasants report on the meeting, though they confirm that Karol Nawrocki is skeptical of both the concept of informal partnerships and the elimination of term limits for local officials. – We presented our arguments to the president, because it’s not about creating an umbrella for local officials. After all, in every election, 30-40% of them lose their positions because residents also choose new people, and it’s not as if the position is cemented – emphasizes Deputy Michał Pyrzyk. – The president said he would consider all the pros and cons again, and then make a decision – adds the politician from the party.
Law on Status of Nearest Person Faces Challenges
Deputy Pyrzyk admits that the law on the status of nearest person is a more difficult issue. – Here the president was more skeptical, there was no optimism in his words – says Pyrzyk. – But he also said he would see what form this law takes when it leaves parliament – he adds. – The discussion on this matter lasted quite a long time. Our goal was to convince the president that these are good, compromise solutions, free from ideology, that do not violate family rights – reports Deputy Magdalena Sroka. – We emphasized that this law is important from the perspective of nearly 2.5 million people living in informal relationships and simply aims to make their lives easier. That’s why we want the president’s signature to be on this law – adds the vice-chair of the PSL club.
Coalition Divisions and Opposition Support
While the projects concerning the status of nearest person no longer cause controversy in the ruling coalition, the peasants will have more trouble with eliminating two-term limits. The majority of Left and Poland 2050 deputies have serious reservations on this matter. – In our club, there are of course people who support this project, like Bartosz Romowicz, but most of us are in favor of maintaining this limit, because research also shows that people do not want this change – a Poland 2050 politician tells us. However, PSL hopes to ultimately gather majority support for passing their proposed changes, if not within the Coalition itself, then among opposition deputies.
Opposition Requests Veto on Term Limits
Meanwhile, deputies from the Razem circle asked President Nawrocki for a veto on the elimination of two-term limits in local government on Thursday. – In our opinion, this project is very harmful. We have repeatedly mentioned that the term limit has a chance to become a safeguard that can break up the forming arrangements around specific people, political options in many places in Poland. They cement Polish cities for entire decades – argued Aleksandra Owca from the Razem board after meeting with the president.
