Third Way (Poland) Explained

Third Way
Native Name:Trzecia Droga
Colorcode:greenyellow
Foundation:27 April 2023
Ideology:Christian democracy
Pro-Europeanism
Factions:
Agrarianism
Liberalism
Liberal conservatism
Country:Poland
Leader1 Title:Leaders
Blank1 Title:Members
Seats1 Title:Sejm
Seats2 Title:Senate
Seats3 Title:European Parliament
Seats4 Title:Regional assemblies
Seats5 Title:City presidents
Seats6 Title:Mayors
Seats7 Title:Wójts
Seats8 Title:Powiat Councils
Seats9 Title:Gmina Councils

The Third Way (TD) is a political alliance in Poland that was formed on 27 April 2023, before the 2023 parliamentary election.[1] 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.

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.[2] [3] [4]

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.[5] In spite of cooperating during election both parties created two separate political groups in the next Sejm.

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.[6] [7] [8]

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.[9] [10] 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.[11] [12] [13]

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.[14] [15] [16] 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.[17] [18]

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.[19]

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 centrist political position.[20] [21]

Composition

NameIdeologyPositionLeaderMPsSenatorsMEPsSejmiksEntry
Party
Poland 2050Centre to centre-rightSzymon Hołownia27 April 2023

Polish Coalition
Polish People's Party
Union of European Democrats
Centre for Poland

Centre to centre-rightWładysław Kosiniak-Kamysz27 April 2023

Election results

European Parliament

Notes and references

Notes

  1. Web site: PSL i Polska 2050. "Związek z rozsądku, pieniędzmi podzielą się równo" . 2023-05-15 . Rzeczpospolita . pl.
  2. Web site: 2023-02-07 . Hołownia: Polska 2050 i PSL chcą stworzyć jedną listę spraw do załatwienia . 2023-05-15 . www.gazetaprawna.pl . pl.
  3. Web site: Bliżej wspólnej listy PSL i Polski 2050 . 2023-05-15 . Rzeczpospolita . pl.
  4. Web site: Michał . 2023-03-01 . Dotrzymaliśmy słowa! Powstała Wspólna Lista Spraw . 2023-05-15 . Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe . pl-PL.
  5. Web site: Polska 2050 i PSL pójdą razem do wyborów jako "Trzecia droga" . 2023-05-15 . Rzeczpospolita . pl.
  6. Web site: Pasławska i Kobosko gośćmi na konwencji Jana Strzeżka i Młodej Polski . 2023-05-15 . Rzeczpospolita . pl.
  7. Web site: Sonik dołączy do PSL? Klimczak: Drzwi są szeroko otwarte . 2023-05-15 . wpolityce.pl . pl.
  8. Web site: 2023-03-13 . Do Hołowni i PSL dołączą byli politycy Porozumienia? "Pomidor" Wiadomości Radio ZET . 2023-05-15 . wiadomosci.radiozet.pl . pl.
  9. Web site: Hołownia i Kosiniak-Kamysz pójdą do wyborów razem. Jako "Trzecia droga" . 2023-05-15 . gazetapl . 15 May 2023 . pl.
  10. Web site: 2023-01-23 . Kosiniak-Kamysz: Nie wygramy wyborów, jak będziemy tylko przeciwko PiS [WYWIAD] ]. 2023-05-15 . www.gazetaprawna.pl . pl.
  11. https://www.psl.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Umowa-PL2050-PSL-27.4.pdf PSL-P2050 manifesto
  12. Web site: 2022-09-01 . Kosiniak-Kamysz: Nie da się zbudować jednej listy na opozycji nie mając wspólnych poglądów światopoglądowych . 2023-05-15 . www.gazetaprawna.pl . pl.
  13. Web site: Referendum aborcyjne - to pomysł Hołowni i Kosiniaka-Kamysza na pierwsze 100 dni rządów opozycji . 2023-05-15 . oko.press . pl.
  14. Web site: 2023-03-08 . Aborcja, in vitro, zrównanie płac. Co siły polityczne proponują Polkom? . 2023-05-15 . forsal.pl . pl.
  15. Web site: Kosiniak-Kamysz o 14-latce, której odmówiono aborcji. "Też bym zastosował klauzulę sumienia" . 2023-05-15 . naTemat.pl . PL-pl.
  16. Web site: 2023-01-21 . "Z zaciśniętymi zębami zagłosują na PiS". Szef PSL: Nie możemy stracić tych wyborców . 2023-05-15 . Do Rzeczy . pl.
  17. Web site: 2022-09-05 . Hołownia: W sprawie aborcji jestem bardziej konserwatywny . 2023-05-15 . Do Rzeczy . pl.
  18. https://polska2050.pl/o-partii/10-obietnic/ Poland2050 10 promises
  19. Web site: "Głosowałbym przeciw". Zaskakująca deklaracja Hołowni ws. małżeństw osób jednopłciowych . 2023-08-27 . naTemat.pl . PL-pl.
  20. Web site: Trzecia droga Hołowni i PSL. "Będziemy częścią rządu opozycji" . 2023-05-15 . oko.press . pl.
  21. Web site: Stańczyk . Zuzanna . 2021-05-05 . Kosiniak-Kamysz: Platforma Obywatelska skręca w lewo . 2023-05-15 . Wiadomości z Kraju i ze Świata - Ciekawe Informacje - ShareInfo.pl . pl-PL.