2020-09-18 12:38 update: 2020-09-20, 18:44
PiS caucus head Ryszard Terlecki. Fot. PAP/Wojciech Olkuśnik
Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party leaders will meet on Monday to decide what to do in the coming days, PiS caucus head Ryszard Terlecki stated on Friday morning, adding that the United Right coalition does not really exist.
Repeating that the ruling coalition did not really exist, Terlecki added that "much can still happen," but also said that consequences must be drawn from the way coalition partners had voted.
On Thursday night, the Sejm (lower house) adopted amendments to the animal protection law. There were 356 votes for the amendments, 75 against and 18 abstentions. Now they will be sent to the Senate for further debate.
Out of 229 members of the ruling coalition, 176 Law and Justice MPs supported the amended bill while all MPs of Solidary Poland, a junior member of the ruling United Right coalition, voted against. Fifteen MPs of the Agreement party, another junior member of the ruling coalition, abstained from voting, two were against. Agriculture Minister Jan Krzysztof Ardanowski was against.
Terlecki told reporters in the Sejm (lower house) that talks regarding a government reshuffle, which had been going on for two weeks, broke down after voting on amendments to animal protection laws.
"Our coalition partners either voted against or abstained from voting. Consequences have to be drawn from this," he said.
"It seems that - of course, let's not exaggerate since various things are possible in politics and much can still happen - the ruling United Right coalition does not really exist and that there will be consequences regarding government posts," Terlecki said.
Asked about the possibility of an early parliamentary election, Terlecki answered that this was the question asked by politicians from the early hours of this morning.
"If nothing changes in the situation which occurred yesterday, there is a possibility of a minority cabinet," he said but admitted that it was difficult for such a government to conduct politics. He also declared that if it turned out impossible to act and make changes with such a cabinet, then an early parliamentary election would be a necessity.
"Of course, if there is an early election, PiS will run in it alone," he said.
Asked what would happen with PiS MPs, including the agriculture minister, who voted against the amendments to the animal protection law, Terlecki answered that they would probably be suspended as party members on Friday. (PAP)
