On October 9, The Civic Platform (Platforma Obywatelska, PO) party met success in this year’s Polish Parliamentary elections, and made history too. For the first time in twenty years, the ruling party has been re-elected in Poland. Although the election results were not surprising, what was unprecedented, is the incredible support shown for the breakaway faction of the Civic Platform party, the Palikot Movement (Ruch Palikota, RP).
The Civic Platform Party (Platforma Obywatelska, PO), headed by Donald Tusk, generated a near 40% support among the Poles, while, Law and Justice Party (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość, PiS) headed by the infamous Jaroslaw Kaczynski, twin to the late President, finished as the second party, with just under 30% of support. It is reported however, that both, the PO and PiS have faced a decline in voter endorsement.
The Palikot Movement (RP) is a relatively new player on Polish political scene in Poland. This year, the party gathered 10.02% of the popular vote, which is more than anyone expected. As a result they have the third party standing.
The Palikot Movement is a breakaway faction of the PO, and made up of those who followed Janusz Palikot, a Member of Parliament, after he was ousted from the party for his “unacceptable” remarks about late President Lech Kaczyński. This party is distinctive in that it is the first party in the country’s history that puts strong emphasis on its program’s anticlerical features (traditionally, parties try to appear pro-church and definitely not anti-church), along with appeals for putting an end to the anti-abortion policy and introducing civil unions for same-sex couples. It has been indicated that Palikot’s Movement will act as a counterweight to prevent PO getting complacent.
Polish People’s Party (Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe , PSL), which formed coalition government with Civic Platform (PO) in the previous elections, received 8.36% of the popular vote. Reports indicate that PO and PSL will once again form a coalition. PO also has ties to Democratic Left Alliance (Sojusz Lewicy Demokratycznej, SLD) — 8.24% of the vote— and Tusk has indicated that some of the party members may decide to join the coalition as well.
The Civic Platform (PO) party won a plurality with 207 seats in the Sejm, followed by the Law and Justice Party (PiS) with 157 seats. The breakaway Palikot Movement won 40 seats and the second biggest incumbent coalition party, the Polish People’s Party (PSL), won 28 seats. The Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) got 27 seats. In the Senate, Civic Platform won an absolute majority with 63 seats, while Law & Justice came away with 31. The only other party to achieve Senate representation was the Polish People’s Party, which won 2 seats. Four independents were also elected.
The new government will be formed no later than November 22, 2011, and the changes will not be revolutionary, according to reports.