A change to the rules of procedure of the Sejm is being prepared. Hołownia: We would choose the prime minister just like we did the pope in the 19th century
The Sejm presidium may decide to change its regulations on Tuesday. The main goal would be to facilitate the possible election of the future prime minister in the so-called “second step”.
Next Monday, the Sejm will vote on a vote of confidence in the government of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. Although the politician claims that his chances of gaining support are about 30 percent, in reality they may be much lower.
The Civic Coalition, Poland 2050, PSL and the Left have a total of 248 seats and openly declare that they will vote against the “two-week government”. The Confederation also avoids supporting him.
For the first time, the Sejm may proceed to the so-called “second step”
Therefore, if Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki fails to obtain the majority of votes required to obtain a vote of confidence, the Sejm will proceed to the so-called “second step”. Deputies will submit candidate proposals to the Presidium of the Sejm and parliamentarians will vote on them.
However, this provision is quite outdated in its structure and was never used in the Third Polish Republic. It comes from the times when there was no voting system in the Sejm allowing immediate reading of who and how voted, which requires a roll-call vote using sheets of paper with the candidate’s name thrown into the ballot box.
Szymon Hołownia wants to change the rules of procedure of the Sejm
This point of the regulations, as well as the requirement for the Sejm to elect the prime minister twice, is to be changed during the presidium meeting on Tuesday. – According to the current regulations, we would elect the prime minister in the 21st century just like we elected the pope in the 19th century. The only thing missing from this entire description is white smoke. Or black, said Szymon Hołownia.
– Today we have efficient voting equipment in the Sejm, which is able to very precisely indicate who voted, how, for whom or against whom. It is also a roll-call vote, because each vote is marked with a name and surname. To improve this process, we want to adapt the Sejm reality once and for all, not only to this second step, but also to all second steps that would be applicable in the future, announced the Marshal of the Sejm.
Changes to the rules of procedure of the Sejm would make it possible to speed up the entire process by at least several dozen minutes. In this case, on the same day that the Sejm will start voting on the vote of confidence in Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, a vote on his possible successor – most likely Donald Tusk – will be possible.
A new prime minister may be elected on the same day
Szymon Hołownia already talked about what the entire Monday in the Sejm will look like after last week’s meeting with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. The Prime Minister is scheduled to arrive at the Sejm at approximately 10 to deliver his exposé, which is to last no longer than an hour. This will be followed by a several-hour discussion.
The vote on the vote of confidence in the government of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki is scheduled to take place around 15. Afterwards, if the Prime Minister fails to obtain a majority, there will be a break for submitting candidates for Prime Minister. – In the afternoon of December 11, or in the early evening, we can move on to electing a new prime minister, unless the previous one receives a vote of confidence, Szymon Hołownia announced.
Then the exposé of the next prime minister would take place on Monday evening or Tuesday morning. – If it is his will, my suggestion, but it is his decision – my decision, but his suggestion – we can part with the elected prime minister that day, have the feeling that this change has taken place, and the exposé and vote on the composition of the Council of Ministers live the next day, i.e. on Tuesday, on the next day of the meeting, maybe from 9 then, so as not to drag it out. We could have this procedure closed in the afternoon, if this is the will of the House, said the Marshal of the Sejm a few days ago.