European Coalition (Poland)

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European Coalition
Koalicja Europejska
AbbreviationKE
Leader
Founded1 February 2019
Dissolved26 May 2019
Headquartersul. Wiejska 12a, 00-490 Warsaw, Poland
Ideology Pro-Europeanism [1]
Liberalism [2]
Political position Centre [3]
European affiliation EPP/S&D/G-EFA/ALDE
Colors
  •   Cerulean
  •   Red
  •   Gray
  •   Blue (customary)
Slogan'The future of Poland – the great choice' [1]
(Polish: Przyszłość Polski. Wielki Wybór)
Website
koalicjaeuropejska.pl

The European Coalition (Polish : Koalicja Europejska, KE) was a short-lived electoral alliance and list in Poland. It was established on the verge of 2019 European Parliament election by a group of former prime ministers and former foreign ministers, including Jerzy Buzek, Ewa Kopacz, Grzegorz Schetyna and Radosław Sikorski. They declared the will to construct "one broad list in European Parliament election, the aim of which would be to restore Poland's strong position in the European Union". The Coalition is to be pro-European and centrist. [4]

Contents

Parties included in the coalition are the Democratic Left Alliance (since 16 February), [5] The Greens (since 17 February), [6] Now! (since 18 February), [7] Civic Platform (since 21 February), [8] Modern, [9] Democratic Party (since 22 February), [10] Polish People's Party, [11] Union of European Democrats (since 23 February), Social Democracy of Poland (since 2 March), [12] Liberty and Equality (since 3 March), [13] League of Polish Families (since 11 March) [14] and Feminist Initiative (since 15 March). [15]

History

During the campaign, the coalition struggled to compete with the straightforward and simple format and structure of Eurosceptic Law and Justice (PiS) and its campaign. Because of the diverse and conflicting views of the coalition's members, each campaign event of the European Coalition had to include speeches by all leaders of the coalition's members, or their delegates - Grzegorz Schetyna, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Włodzimierz Czarzasty, Katarzyna Lubnauer i Marek Kossakowski and Małgorzata Tracz. While the messages and speeches of PiS' representatives were aligned with each other, the themes of the KE's convention were contradictory and often referenced broadly different areas. In result, "the cacophony created by the leaders of the five parties incited doubt within the audience regarding the coherence of the programme and the planned forms of its implementation". [1]

The Coalition also gained the support from Barbara Nowacka and her movement, the Polish Initiative and civic organisation Committee for the Defence of Democracy. [16]

The Coalition came in second place in the 2019 European Parliament election with 38.5% of the vote, returning 22 MEPs. [17]

The result was considered disappointing and a defeat for the coalition. Political scientist Magdalena Skorupska found that supporters of the parties that joined the European Coalition were warded off by the conflicting views of its members; for example, supporters of the centre-right agrarian Polish People's Party were dismayed by the presence of left-wing Democratic Left Alliance as well as neoliberal Civic Platform. The KE also alienated non-conservative religious voters by its heavy criticism of the Polish Catholic Church. [2]

Commenting on the coalition's campaign, political scientist Agnieszka Zaręba stated: "The European Coalition acted based on predictable schemas used in all of the previous campaigns. There was a lack of through effort from the campaign team, there was no original instrumentation to ensure the win. There was no attempt at generating new voters. The overall message of the campaign was vague and incohesive." [18] The coalition was also considered to be an attempt of 'americanizing' Polish politics by creating a two-party system. Observers also noted that the coalition was dominated by Civic Platform. [19]

The disappointing results led the agrarian Polish People's Party (PSL) to opt out of the coalition and set up the Polish Coalition instead, which should not include leftist parties.

Program

According to the coalition's declaration, "the goal of the European Coalition is to permanently establish a nationalist but at the same time individual fate of Polish men and women in the West. To ensure the same conditions: privileges and responsibilities, equal standard of living, possibilities for development and security – as available to other European citizens until now". [1]

The main message of the European Coalition was that of promoting Poland as a potential leader of the European Union. The coalition's slogan was “The future of Poland - The great choice”. According to the statements of the coalition's members, Poland was internationally isolated and had to rebuild positive relations with other EU members. The coalition also relied on the premise to match Polish standards of living with that of Western countries which was to be achieved by reinforcing a unified market, common trade agreements and foreign investment. The KE also promoted the European Union as a possibility for young Poles through easier travel and common, EU-wide university programs. The coalition also foresaw a "revolution" in Polish railway transport and telecommunication, fostered by the EU. [18]

The coalition was heavily undermined by highly contradictory of its member parties and vague proposals. In May 2019, one of the coalition's leaders Rafał Grupiński sparked outrage by his response to a question regarding same-sex marriage and adoption of children by same-sex couples. In response, Grupiński stated that the European Coalition would be cautious on LGBT matters as to avoid losing rural and small-town support. The members of the coalition also greatly different in their views towards the euro currency and its possible introduction to Poland. [20]

Signatories

Prominent signatories of the European Coalition's foundation appeal include: [21]

Composition

The main parties include the following:

NameIdeologyPositionLeader MPs [a] Senators MEPs Entry
Civic Platform Liberal conservatism Centre-right Grzegorz Schetyna
145 / 460
27 / 100
18 / 51
21 February
Modern Liberalism Centre Katarzyna Lubnauer
14 / 460
0 / 100
0 / 51
22 February
Democratic Left Alliance Social democracy
Pro-Europeanism [22] 		Centre-left Włodzimierz Czarzasty
0 / 460
0 / 100
3 / 51
16 February
Polish People's Party Christian democracy Centre-right Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz
14 / 460
1 / 100
4 / 51
23 February
The Greens Green politics Centre-left to left-wing Marek Kossakowski
Małgorzata Tracz
0 / 460
0 / 100
0 / 51
17 February

Also affiliated to the coalition include the following:

NameIdeologyPositionLeader MPs Senators MEPs Entry
Now! Liberalism Centre Ryszard Petru
3 / 460
0 / 100
0 / 51
18 February
Union of European Democrats Social liberalism Centre Elżbieta Bińczycka
3 / 460
0 / 100
0 / 51
23 February
Alliance of Democrats Liberalism Centre Paweł Piskorski
0 / 460
0 / 100
0 / 51
22 February
Social Democracy of Poland Social democracy Centre-left Wojciech Filemonowicz
0 / 460
1 / 100
0 / 51
2 March
Freedom and Equality Social democracy
Democratic socialism
Anti-clericalism 		Left-wing Piotr Musiał
0 / 460
0 / 100
0 / 51
3 March
League of Polish Families Christian democracy
Social conservatism 		Right-wing Witold Bałażak
0 / 460
0 / 100
0 / 51
11 March
Feminist Initiative Feminism Centre-left Collective (Katarzyna Kądziela, Elżbieta Jachlewska, Iwona Piątek)
0 / 460
0 / 100
0 / 51
15 March

Candidates

The European Coalition lists in the 13 constituencies are headed by: [23]

Results

European Parliament

YearLeader# of votes% of votesSeatsPlace
2019 Grzegorz Schetyna [b] 5,249,93538.47
22 / 52
2nd

Source: [24]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ As of 5 April 2019 (unchanged since 13 December 2018). A detailed table of parliamentary group swings in the Lower House can be found on the Polish Wikipedia article regarding the 8th Sejm.
  2. ↑ As the leader of the biggest party of the coalition.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Szwed, Robert (2019). "Political representations of Europe. Analysis of electoral conventions before European Parliament Elections, 2019". Wschodni Rocznik Humanistyczny. 41 (4). The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin: 47–62. doi:10.36121/rszwed.16.2019.4.047.
  2. 1 2 Skorupska, Magdalena. "2019 European Parliament Election in Poland: who benefitted from the record increase in turnout?". Miscellanea Geographica – Regional Studies on Development. 26 (3): 136–148. doi: 10.2478/mgrsd-2022-0001 . ISSN   2084-6118.
  3. ↑ Michalopoulos, Sarantis; Stolton, Samuel (9 September 2019). "Fragmented EU leftist forces struggle to find their feet". Euractiv . For the EU elections, SLD joined forces with the centrist European Coalition and managed to get 5 MEPs elected.
  4. ↑ "Koniec Koalicji Obywatelskiej, Schetyna pokazuje nowy szyld". Onet Wiadomości (in Polish). 1 February 2019. Archived from the original on 1 February 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  5. ↑ "SLD dołącza do Koalicji Europejskiej na eurowybory. Kandydatami m.in. Miller, Belka i Cimoszewicz". gazetapl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 17 February 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  6. ↑ "Koalicja Europejska rośnie w siłę. Przystąpiła kolejna partia". fakty.interia.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 17 February 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  7. ↑ "Partia Teraz! dołącza do Koalicji Europejskiej". wyborcza.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  8. ↑ "Zarząd PO zadecydował w sprawie koalicji". fakty.interia.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 22 February 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  9. ↑ "Koalicja Europejska coraz większa. Kolejna partia na wspólnych listach opozycji do europarlamentu". naTemat.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 22 February 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  10. ↑ "Partia Pawła Piskorskiego zasili Koalicję Europejską? Jest wniosek o akces". dorzeczy.pl (in Polish). 22 February 2019. Archived from the original on 23 February 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  11. ↑ "PSL wchodzi do Koalicji Europejskiej. Kosiniak-Kamysz: To nie jest "antyzwiązek"". gazeta.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  12. ↑ "Konwent krajowy postanowił: Socjaldemokracja Polska przystępuje do Koalicji Europejskiej". sdpl.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  13. ↑ Musiał, Piotr (3 March 2019). "Rada Krajowa WiR w sprawie przystąpienia do Koalicji Europejskiej". wir.info.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  14. ↑ "Liga Polskich Rodzin popiera Koalicję Europejską. Chce się znależć na jej listach". radiozet.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  15. ↑ "Czarzasty: Nie musimy tak samo myśleć o aborcji". rp.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  16. ↑ "KOD będzie wspierał Koalicję Europejską przed wyborami do PE | Polska Agencja Prasowa SA". pap.pl. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  17. ↑ Brzozowski, Alexandra (26 May 2019). "Poland's PiS wins EU polls, braces for 'decisive battle' in autumn –". Euractiv.com. Archived from the original on 11 June 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  18. 1 2 Zaręba, Agnieszka. "The European Parliament elections campaign in Poland, 2019". Wschodni Rocznik Humanistyczny. 41 (4). The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin: 33–45. doi:10.36121/azareba.16.2019.4.033.
  19. ↑ "Poland external relationship briefing: Elections to the European Parliament in Poland, May 2019" (PDF). Weekly Briefing. 18 (4). 12 June 2019. ISSN   2560-1601.
  20. ↑ Krajewski, Andrzej (10 June 2019). "Monitoring of the 2019 European Parliament election campaign in the main news programme of Polish public TV" (PDF). Masz Głos Masz Wybór. Warsaw: Stefan Batory Foundation.
  21. ↑ ""Koalicja europejska dla Polski". Apel byłych premierów i szefów dyplomacji". TVN24.pl. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  22. ↑ "SLD dołącza do Koalicji Europejskiej na eurowybory. Kandydatami m.in. Miller, Belka i Cimoszewicz". gazetapl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 17 February 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  23. ↑ "Listy kandydatów do Parlamentu Europejskiego: Koalicja Europejska [WYBORY 2019]| Wiadomości Radio ZET" (in Polish). Wiadomosci.radiozet.pl. 24 May 2019. Archived from the original on 13 May 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  24. ↑ "Results of European Parliament Election 2019 | KOALICYJNY KOMITET WYBORCZY KOALICJA EUROPEJSKA PO PSL SLD .N ZIELONI | Poland". pe2019.pkw.gov.pl. National Electoral Commission . Retrieved 30 December 2023.
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