Report
How will Polish politics change? The panel was opened by Wawrzyniec Smoczyński, the founder of Polityka Insight. He drew attention to the increased popularity of left-wing slogans in the political debate, the slow disappearance of the PO-PiS duopoly and the problems of both largest parties - PiS with scandals and the discouragement with its rule, and PO with the loss of voters to Wiosna. Smoczyński also outlined the process of moving from a policy based on individualistic values to a more communitarian approach. He said that Poland is entering a period of political instability that would last until 2020. It may be strengthened by the long overdue, post-transition recession and other disturbances, including possible outbreaks of violence (such as the murder of Paweł Adamowicz) and the departure of Jarosław Kaczyński from politics. Smoczyński pointed out that in view of the strength of social divisions "we desperately need a new democratic consensus".
What divides the largest groups? According to Joanna Lichocka from PiS, the most important dividing line on the political scene has been the attitude towards communism for years. The MP argued that PiS was the only important party that rejected the legacy of the People's Republic of Poland (PRL), while the opposition cultivates this legacy. Kacper Płażyński (PiS) was of a different opinion, expressing a belief that the keeping or failing to keep promises was a feature differentiating both parties. The Gdańsk councillor pointed to PiS as the party that keeps its promises. According to Rafał Trzaskowski (PO), parties are primarily divided into those that want non-liberal democracy and those that care about liberal democracy, free courts and independent and strong local governments.
Can the parties transform? According to Smoczyński, the Polish political forces have experienced difficulties in changing. In his opinion, PSL is the exception to the rule, since it managed to transform from an agricultural party into a Christian one. Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz (PSL) referred to this statement. He stated that no grouping was able to change the whole political scene, so PSL started from changing itself – through appointing new, young leaders, for example. Both the PSL leader and the mayor of Warsaw were sceptical about the establishment of Wiosna, which, according to its leader Robert Biedroń, is to change Poland's policy. Both noticed that there were already several similar projects, including Nowoczesna or Palikot's Movement but none of them survived. According to Trzaskowski, the condition for Wiosna’s success is to reach the new electorate, and not just an attempt to take over the already active voters.
How will the opposition reach an agreement? Płażyński criticised the project of the Koalicja Obywatelska, which will probably be joined by PSL. In his opinion, the large ideological range of this group will be incomprehensible to voters. Kosiniak-Kamysz replied that SLD itself was wide and open enough to include a place "even for a lawyer from Gdańsk" – referring to Płażyński himself, who is a lawyer. Kosiniak-Kamysz said that PSL and PO differed in many respects, but there were also many common values, such as Poland's strong position in the EU or reluctance to the Church’s involvement in politics. PSL’s chairman said that PSL’s role in Koalicja Europejska may be to ensure that the grouping does not lean too far to the left. The statements of PSL’s head of the PSL were applauded by the panel's listeners.
Are parties facing a generational revolution? The politicians of all parties agreed that the entry of young people into politics is important, but youth itself was not the key value. Płażyński emphasised that the quality of people was crucial, and 30- and 50-year-olds may have the same analytical minds. Trzaskowski said that "being young" in politics is relative because Robert Biedroń, considered young, had been in politics a decade longer than he or Kosiniak-Kamysz. Warsaw’s mayor added that the parties should take care of the generational change in their own ranks. Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed that young people should have increasingly more to say within their parties. They should also make better use of the older members’ experience, instead of pushing them out.
What will the parliamentary election change? The participants in the debate admitted that regardless of who wins the autumn election, it is no longer possible to return to the way in which politics was conducted before 2015. Kosiniak-Kamysz said that PiS still had a chance for an electoral victory, but not for an independent rule. Trzaskowski announced that the opposition would win the election, and the shape of this victory depended on the "common maturity" of the parties opposing PiS - he probably meant the necessity of creating a joint, broad list. Lichocka promised that Zjednoczona Prawica would "do everything" to win in order to "complete the programme of good change". 
