What is behind the collapse of the coalition in Poland?

In Poland, the Porozumenie party has ended its national-conservative government coalition with the PiS. The move came after Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki dismissed deputy prime minister and minister of development Jaroslaw Gowin, who is also the leader of Porozumenie, in a row over changes to the broadcasting law that targets the private channel TVN, as well as other issues. The Polish parliament is due to vote on the amendments today.

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Polityka (PL) /

Kaczyński taking a big gamble

Polityka says the crisis won't necessarily lead to a change of government:

“Jaroslaw Kaczyński has decided to turn a corner, risk everything and take the bull by the horns. He hopes to hold on to his majority even if it wobbles for a while, and to save himself as he teeters on the edge of the precipice. From there on things can only improve. ... The Poles are putting their faith in the PiS and its gifts once more, its approval ratings are climbing and with them the willingness of the MPs to remain in the right-wing camp or to join it. The PiS has sat out other problems in the past and hopes to be successful with this strategy this time too.”

Gazeta Wyborcza (PL) /

Gowin was wrong

Gazeta Wyborcza wonders why Gowin remained in government for so long:

“Perhaps he believed that his involvement with the United Right would somehow make it better, more civilised, more democratic and more pro-European. If so, he was very mistaken. The question is, how many of the MPs with whom Gowin began his term in 2019 still share his beliefs? ... We'll find out on Wednesday during the parliamentary votes.”