The Third Way (Polish: Trzecia Droga, TD) is a political alliance in Poland that was formed on 27 April 2023, before the 2023 parliamentary election.[4] The coalition's aim is to provide an alternative to both Law and Justice and Civic Platform, the dominant political parties in Poland in the 2010s and early 2020s. The coalition was created by centrist Poland 2050 of Szymon Hołownia and the agrarian Polish People's Party, which leads the centre-right Polish Coalition.
Third Way Trzecia Droga | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leaders | |
| Founded | 27 April 2023 |
| Ideology | Christian democracy Pro-Europeanism Factions: Agrarianism Liberalism Liberal conservatism |
| Political position | Centre-right[1][2][3] |
| European Parliament group | |
| Colors |
|
| Members | |
| Sejm | 64 / 460 |
| Senate | 12 / 100 |
| European Parliament | 3 / 53 |
| Regional assemblies | 72 / 552 |
| City presidents | 2 / 107 |
| Mayors | 58 / 906 |
| Wójts | 150 / 1,463 |
| Powiat Councils | 716 / 6,170 |
| Gmina Councils | 1,909 / 39,416 |
| Website | |
| trzeciadroga | |
History
editUnofficial cooperation between Poland 2050 and Polish People's Party was announced by Szymon Hołownia and Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz on 7 February 2023 as "common list of things to do". Parties declared willing to cooperate in the areas of judicial system, education and local governments.[5][6][7]
After long negotiations the parties decided to run together in the parliamentary election on 27 April, and then revealed the name of the coalition on 15 May.[8] In spite of cooperating during election both parties created two separate political groups in the next Sejm.[4]
Both leaders announced their willingness to hold talks with other political parties and organisations. Reference is made here above all to Wolnościowcy faction, Young Poland Association or conservative dissidents from Civic Platform.[9][10][11]
Platform
editThe Third Way bloc is mostly dominated by conservative, Christian democratic, and moderate liberal politicians. The coalition's goal is to convince former Law and Justice voters to switch to the opposition by creating a centrist or moderate conservative platform on the opposition.[12][13] Per the manifesto of the Third Way, the coalition wants to increase earnings in the budgetary sphere, reform the school system, implement a climate policy based on renewable energy, and simplify the tax system. The alliance calls for a referendum on the admissibility of abortion, leaving its members freedom in social matters; most of its members are more than less conservative on social issues.[14][15][16]
Ideologically Polish Coalition is focused around agrarianism, conservatism, and Christian democracy, mostly because of the influence of the Polish People's Party and Centre for Poland (a conservative split from the Civic Platform), while the Union of European Democrats maintains social-liberal positions as a successor of the Freedom Union.[17][18][19] Poland 2050 represents mainly centrist views with visible green politics influence; both Christian democratic and liberal influences are present, mainly due to former Civic Coalition politicians joining the party.[20][21]
The party's stance towards issues regarding LGBTQ issues is not explicit. In Radio Zet's broadcast led by Bogdan Rymanowski, Szymon Hołownia, who is the main figure of Poland 2050, expressed his position against same-sex marriage. He said that "his movement would follow a rule of voting according to one's conscience" if such question was brought up. Hołownia regards the legalization of civil unions as more rational.[22]
Name
editThe name Third Way is primarily an indication of building an alternative to both the United Right, which is national conservative, and the Civic Coalition, which is a big tent, catch-all party. Despite some overlap, it does not associate itself with the Third Way right-leaning political position.[23][24]
Composition
edit| Name | Ideology | Position | Leader | MPs | Senators | MEPs | Sejmiks | Entry | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | |||||||||
| Poland 2050 | Christian democracy Environmentalism Liberalism |
Centre to centre-right | Szymon Hołownia | 32 / 460
|
5 / 100
|
1 / 51
|
3 / 552
|
27 April 2023 | |
| Polish Coalition[note 1] •Polish People's Party •Union of European Democrats •Centre for Poland |
Agrarianism Christian democracy Liberal conservatism |
Centre-right to right-wing | Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz | 32 / 460
|
7 / 100
|
3 / 52
|
69 / 552
|
27 April 2023 | |
Election results
editSejm
edit| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Szymon Hołownia Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz |
3,110,670 | 14.4 (#3) | 65 / 460
|
|
KO-PL2050-KP-NL |
European Parliament
edit| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | EP Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Szymon Hołownia Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz |
813,238 | 6.91 (#4) | 3 / 53
|
New | EPP / RE |
Sejmiks
edit| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Szymon Hołownia Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz |
2,054,152 | 14.3 (#3) | 80 / 552
|
10
|
Notes and references
editNotes
edit- ^ The Polish Coalition also cooperates with non-parliamentary parties and organisations, e.g. Silesians Together, or Fair Play State, and moreover with non-partisan and local politicians.
References
edit- ^ "Polish PM Tusk's Civic Coalition seen ahead in EU vote exit poll". Deutsche Welle. 9 June 2024.
KO's partners in the pro-European coalition government which took power in December, the centre-right Third Way and the Left, got 8.2% and 6.6% respectively.
- ^ Pyka, Agata (2 September 2024). "Polish PM Tusk launches "great government confession" of ministers' failings". Notes from Poland.
However, Tusk made those promises as leader of the Civic Coalition (KO), which failed to win an independent majority and had to go into coalition with The Left (Lewica) and centre-right Third Way (Trzecia Droga). Differences between KO and its partners have stymied Tusk's agenda.
- ^ "Government party wins EP elections in Poland - official results". Polish Press Agency. 10 June 2024.
The far-right Confederation party received 12.08 percent of the vote, while the two government partners - the centre-right Third Way garnered 6.91 percent and the Left won 6.3 percent.
- ^ a b "PSL i Polska 2050. "Związek z rozsądku, pieniędzmi podzielą się równo"". Rzeczpospolita (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ^ "Hołownia: Polska 2050 i PSL chcą stworzyć jedną listę spraw do załatwienia". www.gazetaprawna.pl (in Polish). 2023-02-07. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ^ "Bliżej wspólnej listy PSL i Polski 2050". Rzeczpospolita (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ^ Michał (2023-03-01). "Dotrzymaliśmy słowa! Powstała Wspólna Lista Spraw". Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ^ "Polska 2050 i PSL pójdą razem do wyborów jako "Trzecia droga"". Rzeczpospolita (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ^ "Pasławska i Kobosko gośćmi na konwencji Jana Strzeżka i Młodej Polski". Rzeczpospolita (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ^ "Sonik dołączy do PSL? Klimczak: Drzwi są szeroko otwarte". wpolityce.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ^ "Do Hołowni i PSL dołączą byli politycy Porozumienia? "Pomidor" | Wiadomości Radio ZET". wiadomosci.radiozet.pl (in Polish). 2023-03-13. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ^ "Hołownia i Kosiniak-Kamysz pójdą do wyborów razem. Jako "Trzecia droga"". gazetapl (in Polish). 15 May 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ^ "Kosiniak-Kamysz: Nie wygramy wyborów, jak będziemy tylko przeciwko PiS [WYWIAD]". www.gazetaprawna.pl (in Polish). 2023-01-23. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ^ PSL-P2050 manifesto
- ^ "Kosiniak-Kamysz: Nie da się zbudować jednej listy na opozycji nie mając wspólnych poglądów światopoglądowych". www.gazetaprawna.pl (in Polish). 2022-09-01. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ^ "Referendum aborcyjne - to pomysł Hołowni i Kosiniaka-Kamysza na pierwsze 100 dni rządów opozycji". oko.press (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ^ "Aborcja, in vitro, zrównanie płac. Co siły polityczne proponują Polkom?". forsal.pl (in Polish). 2023-03-08. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ^ "Kosiniak-Kamysz o 14-latce, której odmówiono aborcji. "Też bym zastosował klauzulę sumienia"". naTemat.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ^ ""Z zaciśniętymi zębami zagłosują na PiS". Szef PSL: Nie możemy stracić tych wyborców". Do Rzeczy (in Polish). 2023-01-21. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ^ "Hołownia: W sprawie aborcji jestem bardziej konserwatywny". Do Rzeczy (in Polish). 2022-09-05. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ^ Poland2050 10 promises
- ^ ""Głosowałbym przeciw". Zaskakująca deklaracja Hołowni ws. małżeństw osób jednopłciowych". naTemat.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-08-27.
- ^ "Trzecia droga Hołowni i PSL. "Będziemy częścią rządu opozycji"". oko.press (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ^ Stańczyk, Zuzanna (2021-05-05). "Kosiniak-Kamysz: Platforma Obywatelska skręca w lewo". Wiadomości z Kraju i ze Świata - Ciekawe Informacje - ShareInfo.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-05-15.