Jaroslaw Gowin in the Sejm lower parliamentary house, 12 September 2013. Photo: PAP/Tomasz Gzell
The survey, undertaken by TNS Polska pollsters, shows that 38 percent of respondents declared that the party “probably would not get into the Sejm [lower house of parliament]”, while 20 percent stated that it “definitely” would not pass the 5 percent threshold to win seats in parliament.
Only 20 percent of respondents stated that any new party led by Gowin would “probably” win seats, while only 4 percent are optimistic that his party would “definitely” get into parliament.
However, 18 percent of people surveyed were undecided about the fate of Jaroslaw Gowin’s new party – should one be created.
Meanwhile, 47 percent of respondents stated that if Gowin were to join another party, it would not have an effect on its support, although 25 percent think that it would have a positive effect.
The poll was undertaken during 11-12 September on a representative selection of 1000 adult residents in Poland.
What next for Gowin?
Following Jaroslaw Gowin’s resignation from the ruling Civic Platform coalition on Monday, speculation as to his political future has risen that he may co-found a new political grouping.
The Rzeczpospolita daily claimed earlier this week that Gowin has been in cahoots with Przemyslaw Wipler – who recently quit the major opposition Law and Justice to form the Republican association – as well as Pawel Kowal – who heads Poland Comes First, a splinter party also with roots in Law and Justice – to form a new political group.
However, the former justice minister told journalists during his resignation conference on Monday that he will present his future plans “in a week or two.”
Gowin follows in the footsteps of John Godson, Poland’s first black MP, who quit Civic Platform on “moral” grounds. A close colleague of Gowin’s, Jacek Zalek, also left Civic Platform’s ranks this week to become an independent MP.
The Civic Platform-Polish Peasants’ Party coalition now hangs in the balance in the Sejm, with just 231 seats – a majority of one MP. On the other hand, Law and Justice, the largest opposition party, holds 137 seats. (jb)