15 Poland 2050 deputies and three senators submitted a proposal to the Sejm to create a new Centrum club, with its logo unveiled on Wednesday.
New Clubs Formed Amid Turmoil
We have two new clubs: Centrum and Poland 2050. A bit of distance and time. We’ll wait a week, emotions will subside, stated Sejm Marshal Włodzimierz Czarzasty during a Wednesday press conference. He emphasized that parliamentarians must simply “sit down and start liking each other again.” Czarzasty confirmed the split in Poland 2050 should not negatively impact the governing coalition’s condition, stating he believes it will not have a significant negative effect. “I love all my coalition partners,” he concluded in his characteristic style.
Centrum Club Launches Online
The official profile for the Centrum parliamentary club appeared on social media. The first post reads: “We are creating a new Centrum Parliamentary Club today so we can remain true to our ideals and fulfill the promises made to voters in 2023. ‘Enough quarreling, forward’ – it’s time to put this slogan into life.” The “Enough quarreling, forward” slogan was used by the Third Way – the coalition of Poland 2050 and Polish People’s Party – in the 2023 parliamentary elections.
The club’s logo was also revealed: a green-blue “C” on a gray background. Its motto is “Centrum is where people meet.” First members scheduled media interviews for Wednesday, including Sławomir Ćwik, Norbert Pietrykowski, and Żaneta Cwalina-Śliwowska.
Poland 2050 Breakaway Group
On Wednesday, a group of Poland 2050 politicians announced they are forming their own parliamentary club. According to Gazeta.pl reporter Marta Rawicz, this club will include 15 deputies and senators: Elżbieta Burkiewicz, Izabela Bodnar, Żaneta Cwalina-Śliwowska, Sławomir Ćwik, Paulina Hennig-Kloska, Rafał Kasprzyk, Rafał Komarewicz, Aleksandera Leo, Barbara Okuła, Barbara Oliwiecka, Ryszard Petru, Norbert Pietrykowski, Marcin Skonieczka, Mirosław Suchoń, and Ewa Szymonwska, along with three senators: Grzegorz Fedorowicz, Piotr Masłowski, and Jacek Trela. MEP Michał Kobosko also expressed support for the club.
Coalition Leaders Downplay Impact
Polish People’s Party leader Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz commented on the Poland 2050 split, stating: “I see these turbulences as necessitating more conversation and dialogue, perhaps with more groups than before, but they do not threaten the government or the coalition, nor do they endanger the majority.” He added that members of both clubs declare support for the government.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk echoed similar sentiments: “In recent days and hours, both Ms. Pełczyńska-Nałęcz and Ms. Hennig-Kloska assured me that regardless of turbulence in their group, they remain loyal to the government and the October 15 coalition.” He reassured: “I want to calm you down; we have survived worse turbulences and shocks in the political scene – worldwide, European, and Polish – in excellent shape.”
