Left leader sceptical about election promises made by Polish gov't
Adrian Zandberg, the leader of the left-wing Together Party, has told PAP that the current centrist government has failed to make good on its 2023 election promises and will not fulfil them despite the ongoing cabinet reshuffle.
The Together Party campaigned in the autumn 2023 parliamentary elections together with the other parties that now form the ruling pro-European coalition in an effort to oust the socially-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) government that had been in power for eight years.
However, Zandberg's party refused to enter the government when a number of its postulates were rejected by its partners, who range from the centre-right Poland 2050 to the agrarian Polish People's Party to the centrist Civic Coalition and, finally, to The Left.
"The problems of this government are not related to one or two figures pulling this government down, but to the fact that for one and a half years the government has not been making good on its election promises and this is unlikely to change," Zandberg said in an interview with PAP on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk is expected to present the new lineup of his government on Wednesday morning, but Zandberg expressed scepticism that this could give the cabinet new momentum.
Zandberg said the government was conflicted and had problems with setting a clear direction. He argued that Donald Tusk must take responsibility for voters' disappointment and deteriorating opinion polls.
He also expressed hope that the five-year presidency of Karol Nawrocki, who is supported by PiS and will become the head of state on August 6, would not be used as an excuse for "yet another year of the government's indolence."
The Tusk government has vowed to restore the independence of the judicial system, but its efforts have been hindered by outgoing President Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally. Liberal social reforms, including stronger women's and minority rights, have been blocked by the more conservative partners in the coalition government. Bold economic improvements, including the doubling of the annual tax-free allowance, seem unlikely given Poland's high budget deficit which caused the European Commission to launch an excessive deficit procedure against the country, a mechanism that obliges Poland to reduce its spending or raise tax collection, or both. (PAP)jd/jch
