Another hasty departure

By Mirko Kaupat

It seems that not a week goes by without a political resignation, but for a change it was not one of Prime Minister Leszek Miller's ministers this time. Maciej Płażyński left his post as head of the opposition party Civic Platform (PO).

For quite some time there had been speculation that Płażyński was dissatisfied with the PO's standpoint in the political spectrum. The party's stance was a controversial matter within the PO itself as well, as it was founded by politicians from both the liberal Freedom Union (UW) party and the conservative Solidarity Election Action (AWS) party prior to the parliamentary elections of 2001, after their coalition under former Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek had broken down.

From the beginning, however, the PO's leaders couldn't forget their political origins. Whereas deputy Sejm speaker Donald Tusk saw the PO as a liberal center party, Płażyński wanted it to be a conservative party with a profile similar to that of the Law and Justice party (PiS). Płażyński therefore believed that the PO and the PiS could form a close relationship and possibly come together in elections or even form one party.

Furthermore, Płażyński expected the PO and PiS to join the conservatives in the European Parliament next year, although the liberals within the PO wished to remain independent. When Płażyński realized that his plan wouldn't materialize, he resigned.

Political observers expected his resignation, even though some were surprised that it came only two months before the EU referendum. The PO is the only opposition party clearly in favor of EU accession. This is why its members tried to convince Płażyński to remain at the helm.

Other PO members, however, didn't shed any tears at Płażyński's departure.

"Now we can speak with our own voice again instead of speaking with the voice of PiS," said one deputy.

Tusk is now the PO's new boss. Another ex-leader, Andrzej Olechowski, announced his reemergence in the party's leadership, and PO member Jan Rokita is using his position on the Sejm's Rywin-gate investigation commission to strengthen his influence. Both Olechowski and Rokita are liberal conservatives, so the PO will now be centrist rather than right wing, but still a potential coalition partner for the PiS.

Meanwhile with Płażyński out of the picture, the SLD is counting on the PO's support for its budget and tax reform plans. The PO in return has expressed a willingness to cooperate on that issue. However, it has one condition: Miller has to go.