Virus Accountability Poses Biggest Test Yet for Polish Coalition

(Bloomberg) -- The future of Poland’s ruling coalition came under threat as politicians argued over a plan to water down the responsibility of state officials fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.

A junior partner to the Law & Justice party said it wouldn’t back legislation to grant immunity to public officials who broke the law while “acting in the public interest” to battle the virus. The row comes amid tense negotiations within the three-party coalition over posts and policy, in a long-planned cabinet revamp following a busy election period.

A government spokesman said a minority cabinet or a snap vote can’t be ruled out if the parties don’t settle the differences, the biggest spat since the coalition gained power in 2015. Nevertheless, Law & Justice’s grip remains strong after it won last year’s general election and this year’s presidential vote. The next nationwide ballot is due in 2023.

“There is a dispute, but once in a while every broad coalition must have a discussion,” Adam Bielan, a senior coalition lawmaker, told state broadcaster TVP Info. The ruling bloc “will not fall apart. This would be absurd and incomprehensible for voters.”

The conflict heightened after a court ruled this week that Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki “blatantly” broke the law during preparations to hold a presidential election at the height of the pandemic in May, spending 70 million zloty ($19 million) on a vote that was abandoned.

The ballot was eventually held nearly two months later and under different procedures in the wake of coalition squabbles and concern by international monitors that the voting method may stoke fraud.

On Thursday, lawmakers from Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro’s satellite party forced Law & Justice to withdraw the immunity bill. Local newspapers have for weeks reported about a power struggle between Morawiecki and Ziobro, on issues ranging from relations with Europe to revamping the media market and fighting corruption in business.

“Without the immunity legislation, key Law & Justice politicians could face consequences from the justice apparatus,” said Olgierd Annusewicz, a political scientist at Warsaw University. “As long as coalition partners keep their cabinet posts, this spat remains a test of strength.”

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