It has become a commonplace to sum up the government's year since the 2023 elections as being disappointing for the Left in particular. (The Left is one of the three main coalition partners along with Civic Coalition, the largest group, and the centre-right Third Way.)
The disappointment is said to be due to the lack of progress in two main areas: the new government was supposed to prosecute those guilty of corruption or violating the Constitution and liberalise Poland's strict anti-abortion laws. Both areas the Left was counting on action.
The Left itself admits failure in these areas:
"One of the biggest mistakes of our government is the failure to sort the so-called abortion issue, because there are social groups voting for all the coalition partners motivated particularly by this issue."
However, one Left leader, Anna Maria Żukowska, is much more positive about the last 10 months in government. (The coalition began life on December 13th 2023 after an interim government failed to secure a majority.)
She has told the Polish daily "Rzeczpospolita" this week, that the Left in particular has been effective in realising it's election promises. Only it has not been effective in communicating its success:
"[We need to] show that ... this first year of our term in office has been a season in which the Left has proven effective. That we are happy to be in government and this government is realising our manifesto. And that we debunk the charges and insinuations that we are getting played and not achieving anything. Because it is the Left that has successes to be proud of... For example, the introduction of the widowed person's allowance, public sector pay rises, increases in social benefits for carers of the disabled, the launch of the "Active Parent" program and the guarantee of 3.5 billion PLN next year for the construction of low-cost rented flats. We even encounter envy from some of our coalition partners [in view of these programs]."
Żukowska suggested that the Left will not be resorting to ultimatums to achieve further successes, for example in the area of abortion. "We have the political know-how allowing us to negotiate at a higher level than by issuing ultimatums via the media."
However, Żukowska does perceive a threat to the unity of the ruling coalition should the presidential elections in 2025 be won by the opposition, Law and Justice. In that case the difficulty/impossibility of passing laws would put considerable pressure on the ruling coalition.
Sources: Rzeczpospolita, X
pt