News About Poland - The Polish Outlook

Poland: Power Over Principle To Control The Polish Government

Classified Polnews

After a high profile public argument on television in Poland that saw public reprimands and challenges, the Polish Prime Minister and his Deputy Prime Minister are, as expected, all smiles again. The need to stay in power was more powerful than the need to adhere to principles.

Roman Giertych
Wields Power

Deputy Prime Minister Roman Giertych took a strong position on anti-abortion at a conference in Germany and announced that his position was the position of the Polish Government. Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski disagreed and publicly reprimanded Giertych. As public spat ensued. See Poland's Deputy Prime Minister Makes Direct Challenge To Polish Prime Minister

Giertych went into a meeting with Kaczynski yesterday with a letter asking for his removal from office. He came out of the meeting with that same letter and very happy with the results of the meeting.

Giertych had publicly demanded to know if someone with his opinions could stay in the Coalition Government. Kaczynski said that he could have his own opinions. And Giertych acknowledged that it was nice to be able to have opinions just as he has been able to have opinions for many years.

At an afternoon press conference Kaczynski declared the matter closed.

But the internet instantly reacted with comments that questioned and ridiculed Kaczynski.

The undercurrent is strong that Kaczynski is not in control. He is afraid to face the electorate so he has to give in to the demands of his Coalition Partners.

And his Coalition Partners know it. Though their poll numbers show that they would not be returned to the Polish Parliament, they seem to be less afraid to face the electorate in new elections than is Kaczynski.

Rumor has it that Kaczynski asked Giertych to not go outside Poland for a while so that he does not express his opinions to the international community.

So the long and the short of it is that Kaczynski went on television to reprimand Giertych, Giertych fought back and both made up in private.

Kaczynski stays in power, Giertych has established his position with the voters and nothing has changed.

In principle the Prime Minister controls the Government. But in fact, the power is in the minority Coalition Partners who ignore that and other principles.