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Polish parliamentary Speaker denies plotting new coalition with opposition

07.07.2025 14:45
Poland's parliamentary Speaker has denied planning to form a new ruling coalition with the opposition, following a secret meeting that sparked concerns within the governing camp.
Polish lower-house Speaker Szymon Hołownia.
Polish lower-house Speaker Szymon Hołownia.Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

Szymon Hołownia, the Speaker of Poland's lower house of parliament and leader of the centre-right Poland 2050 group, said on Monday that neither he nor his party was engaged in talks with the right-wing opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party about creating a new government.

"We are not conducting—and I want this to be absolutely clear—neither I nor Poland 2050 are holding any talks about any alternative coalition," Hołownia told a news conference in Warsaw.

Hołownia, an ally of centrist Prime Minister Donald Tusk, said he had received no offers to serve as prime minister or to continue as lower-house Speaker after his term ends in November.

He reaffirmed his commitment to the existing coalition, known as the October 15 alliance, which took power following the 2023 general election.

"The responsibility for Poland today lies with the October 15 coalition," he said, while also calling for "fundamental, deep reform" within the alliance.

Under a coalition agreement, Hołownia is to serve as Speaker until November 13, after which the post is scheduled to go to leftist lawmaker Włodzimierz Czarzasty, leader of the New Left party.

Hołownia’s remarks came amid political turbulence sparked by reports of a secret late-night meeting last Thursday with PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński.

The meeting took place at the Warsaw apartment of Adam Bielan, a conservative member of the European Parliament, according to media reports.

Polish outlets including broadcaster Radio Zet and Newsweek Polska reported that Hołownia arrived first, followed by Kaczyński.

Kaczyński said on Sunday that the meeting focused on what he called an urgent need to "save" the country and address deepening political divisions.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP, TVN24