Karol Nawrocki met with parliamentary representatives at the Presidential Palace, but the Presidential Office criticized Civic Coalition and The Left for declining the invitation.
Presidential Office Responds to Absence
On January 29, Karol Nawrocki met with representatives of parliamentary clubs at the Presidential Palace. The next day, President’s Office head Paweł Szefernaker commented on the meeting, stating: “Yesterday’s meeting between the president and the clubs and parliamentary circles were specific talks about what is most important today, that is, the affairs of ordinary Poles.”
“In the face of key state challenges, dialogue is not a privilege of power, but its obligation. That’s why Poles chose the President and Parliament to talk and cooperate. Whoever escapes from this issues a testimony to themselves. This was also a test of real intentions. Some passed. Others did not. Poles will judge this,” wrote the PiS politician.
Opposition Explains Refusal
The Presidential Office’s comments referred to the fact that Civic Coalition and The Left did not accept Nawrocki’s invitation. According to presidential spokesman Rafał Leskiewicz, “this is a bad signal for voters.”
“If representatives of the second largest parliamentary club do not appear for a meeting with the head of state, what kind of signal is this for the voters of this group?” Leskiewicz asked in Radio ZET.
Reasons for Rejecting the Invitation
Minister of Education Barbara Nowacka from KO explained the reasons for rejecting the invitation: “There is a certain constitutional order and peace. If the president or his people have any questions, they know the formal way.”
“The president tries in various ways to undermine the constitutional division of power and under the pretext of nice meetings to show that he is the center of power in Poland. No, he is not,” said Nowacka in TVN24.
Anna Maria Żukowska from The Left wrote: “The invitation was purely courteous. No thematic scope was defined. And I have coffee, tea and cookies at home. Paweł Szefernaker – thank you.”
“We don’t go to private meetings. This is politics, responsibility. The agenda was undefined, and social gatherings can be held in another circle. I don’t agree to such setups,” stated Włodzimierz Czarzasty at a press conference in Zaleszany.
