The Third Way (Polish: Trzecia Droga, TD) is a political alliance in Poland that was formed on 27 April 2023, before the 2023 parliamentary election.[3] The coalition's aim is to provide an alternative to both Law and Justice and Civic Platform, the dominant political parties in Poland in the 2010s and early 2020s. The coalition was created by centrist Poland 2050 of Szymon Hołownia and the agrarian Polish People's Party, which leads the centre-right Polish Coalition.
Third Way Trzecia Droga | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leaders | |
| Founded | 27 April 2023 |
| Ideology | Christian democracy Pro-Europeanism Factions: Agrarianism Liberalism Conservatism |
| Political position | Centre to centre-right[1][2] |
| European Parliament group | |
| Colors |
|
| Members | |
| Sejm | 64 / 460 |
| Senate | 12 / 100 |
| European Parliament | 4 / 52 |
| Regional assemblies | 72 / 552 |
| City presidents | 2 / 107 |
| Mayors | 58 / 906 |
| Wójts | 150 / 1,463 |
| Powiat Councils | 716 / 6,170 |
| Gmina Councils | 1,909 / 39,416 |
| Website | |
| trzeciadroga | |
History
Unofficial cooperation between Poland 2050 and Polish People's Party was announced by Szymon Hołownia and Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz on 7 February 2023 as "common list of things to do". Parties declared willing to cooperate in the areas of judicial system, education and local governments.[4][5][6]
After long negotiations the parties decided to run together in the parliamentary election on 27 April, and then revealed the name of the coalition on 15 May.[7] In spite of cooperating during election both parties created two separate political groups in the next Sejm.[3]
Both leaders announced their willingness to hold talks with other political parties and organisations. Reference is made here above all to Wolnościowcy faction, Young Poland Association or conservative dissidents from Civic Platform.[8][9][10]
Platform
The Third Way bloc is mostly dominated by conservative, Christian democratic, and moderate liberal politicians. The coalition's goal is to convince former Law and Justice voters to switch to the opposition by creating a centrist or moderate conservative platform on the opposition.[11][12] Per the manifesto of the Third Way, the coalition wants to increase earnings in the budgetary sphere, reform the school system, implement a climate policy based on renewable energy, and simplify the tax system. The alliance calls for a referendum on the admissibility of abortion, leaving its members freedom in social matters; most of its members are more than less conservative on social issues.[13][14][15]
Ideologically Polish Coalition is focused around agrarianism, conservatism, and Christian democracy, mostly because of the influence of the Polish People's Party and Centre for Poland (a conservative split from the Civic Platform), while the Union of European Democrats maintains social-liberal positions as a successor of the Freedom Union.[16][17][18] Poland 2050 represents mainly centrist views with visible green politics influence; both Christian democratic and liberal influences are present, mainly due to former Civic Coalition politicians joining the party.[19][20]
The party's stance towards issues regarding LGBTQ issues is not explicit. In Radio Zet's broadcast led by Bogdan Rymanowski, Szymon Hołownia, who is the main figure of Poland 2050, expressed his position against same-sex marriage. He said that "his movement would follow a rule of voting according to one's conscience" if such question was brought up. Hołownia regards the legalization of civil unions as more rational.[21]
Name
The name Third Way is primarily an indication of building an alternative to both the United Right, which is national conservative, and the Civic Coalition, which is a big tent, catch-all party. Despite some overlap, it does not associate itself with the Third Way centrist political position.[22][23]
Composition
| Name | Ideology | Position | Leader | MPs | Senators | MEPs | Sejmiks | Entry | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | |||||||||
| Poland 2050 | Christian democracy Environmentalism Liberalism | Centre to centre-right | Szymon Hołownia | 32 / 460 | 5 / 100 | 1 / 51 | 3 / 552 | 27 April 2023 | |
| Polish Coalition[note 1] •Polish People's Party •Union of European Democrats •Centre for Poland •Agreement | Agrarianism Christian democracy Conservatism | Centre to centre-right | Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz | 32 / 460 | 7 / 100 | 3 / 52 | 69 / 552 | 27 April 2023 | |
Election results
Sejm
| Election year | Leader | # of votes | % of vote | # of overall seats won | +/– | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Szymon Hołownia Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz | 3,110,670 | 14.4 (#3) | 65 / 460 |  | KO-PL2050-KP-NL |
Sejmiks
| Election year | Leader | # of votes | % of vote | # of overall seats won | +/– |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Szymon Hołownia Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz | 2,054,152 | 14.3 (#3) | 80 / 552 | 10 |