Poland: KO, Third Way, and Left jointly choose Tusk as PM candidate

• President Duda starts Tues. consultations with Sejm parties on next govt
• Opposition parties appeal to president not to delay
• But it remains likely Duda will give PiS the first mandate, delaying govt changeover

The Civic Platform (PO)-led Civic Coalition (KO), the Third Way coalition, and the Left confirmed Tues. their readiness to fully cooperate and create a new majority in the next parliament with PO leader Donald Tusk as PM, according to a declaration given at a news conference. The four party leaders -- Tusk from the KO, the Third Way's Szymon Holownia and Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, and Left leader Wlodzimierz Czarzasty -- also called on President Andrzej Duda to delay the changeover of government. Duda started Tues. talks with the five parties that qualified for parliamentary representation. He is meeting the outgoing ruling Law and Justice (PiS) and the KO on Tues. and the other three Wed.

The opposition leaders did not make any further statement on the shape of the future government, noting only that negotiations were continuing. But Holownia, leader of Polska 2050, said on the sidelines of the event that the Third Way did want the Sejm speaker chair. It is widely reported that he wants that position for himself as a springboard to the presidency in two years. But the KO also eyes the powerful Sejm speaker position, with Tusk said to want PO caucus leader Borys Budka. Talks continue. Holownia added the Third Way wants a deputy PM position, and reports suggest that will go to Kosiniak-Kamysz, leader of the Polish Peasants' Party (PSL), the other member of the Third Way.

The four opposition leaders also declared their will to appoint the speaker of the Senate. The Left is lining up to get this position, which is important, but not quite as important as it was in the outgoing parliament since the same coalition controls both chambers of parliament.

As for the talks with Duda, the president said recently he would ask the parties about their ideas on investment, the economy, energy, and defense. He said he would ask about the potential candidates for PM, as well as whether they believe they have a majority.

Overall, Duda's talks are 90% likely to mark a fa?ade before he chooses a PM candidate from PiS even though that candidate has a near zero chance of forming a majority. PiS wants time to hide its tracks (reports are that the government has bought dozens of paper shredders), prepare dirt on the opposition coalition (reports are that the CBA is listening into opposition parties, especially he PSL), and start the narrative that the coalition is riven by division. But these are rearguard actions and the opposition coalition has been very unified in their joint declaration that they will take over. That means taking over is only a matter of time, whether the opposition has to wait for mid-December to set up or Duda surprises and it can do so in the second half of November. This unity is to survive what are likely to be hard talks about splitting up the ministries.