Third Way (Poland)

Last updated
Third Way
Trzecia Droga
Leaders
Founded27 April 2023
Ideology Christian democracy
Pro-Europeanism
Factions:
Agrarianism
Liberalism
Liberal conservatism
Political position Centre-right [1] [2] [3]
European Parliament group
Colors
  •   Yellow (Poland 2050)
  •   Green (Polish Coalition)
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.org

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.

Contents

History

Unofficial 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

The 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

The 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

NameIdeologyPositionLeader 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

Sejm

ElectionLeaderVotes %Seats+/–Government
2023 Szymon Hołownia
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz
3,110,67014.4 (#3)
65 / 460
Increase2.svg KO-PL2050-KP-NL

European Parliament

ElectionLeaderVotes %Seats+/–EP Group
2024 Szymon Hołownia
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz
813,2386.91 (#4)
3 / 53
New EPP / RE

Sejmiks

ElectionLeaderVotes %Seats+/–
2024 Szymon Hołownia
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz
2,054,15214.3 (#3)
80 / 552
Increase2.svg 10

Notes and references

Notes

  1. 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.

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References

  1. "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.
  2. 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.
  3. "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.
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  14. PSL-P2050 manifesto
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  21. Poland2050 10 promises
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