Polish right-wing parties clash over Senate pact, Kaczyński blocks Braun alliance

The Confederation of the Polish Crown submitted a December proposal to create an “independence” Senate pact that would unite PiS, two Confederation factions and Rozwój Plus to secure a majority in the upper house and block Donald Tusk’s left-leaning bloc. However, PiS and President Andrzej Duda have not given their backing, and they oppose any alliance that includes Grzegorz Braun’s party. Roman Fritz, vice-president of the Confederation, told Jerzy Karweli that while many PiS activists favor a broad pact, Jarosław Kaczyński is blocking it, possibly under pressure from higher authorities.

Fritz also noted that US State Department representative Ellen Germain and Ambassador Tom Rose have signaled that Washington would not accept a government involving Braun. The stalemate could demobilise right-wing voters and leave Tusk’s coalition with a Senate majority. Fritz suggested a leadership change in PiS might ease negotiations, but as it stands the pact remains deadlocked.