Is the Green Deal a political corpse in Poland?

Poland's right-wing opposition is facing a strategic dilemma regarding the energy transition. On the one hand, competition among far-right parties, and on the other hand, the need to win over centrist voters, are turning energy policies into a battleground. While the Law and Justice Party (PiS), Konfederasyon, and other right-wing groups form a common front against the Green Deal, the ruling coalition is also receiving criticism on this issue.

The concept of the Green Deal in Poland has almost completely lost its credibility. According to a study by the Project Tempo think tank, only 19% of Poles believe that the Green Deal is good for the European economy. However, this does not mean that Poles are opposed to clean energy sources. Specific policies such as nuclear power plants and photovoltaics receive broad support. The main point of opposition is the bans and obligations brought by the Green Deal.

The fact that the Green Deal originates from Brussels fuels concerns in Poland about the expansion of the EU's powers. Poles are uncomfortable with the erosion of their national sovereignty. This situation allows the right-wing opposition to strengthen its anti-EU rhetoric. On the other hand, the ruling coalition is also struggling to implement the Green Deal and cannot deliver a clear message on this issue.

The right-wing opposition could see the energy transition as an opportunity to attract centrist voters. However, being in competition with far-right parties leads them to adopt more radical rhetoric. This reduces their chances of winning over centrist voters in the long term. The energy transition has become a key issue in Polish politics and is deepening the divide between parties.

In conclusion, the Green Deal in Poland can be described as a political corpse. However, the energy transition itself remains an important agenda item. Poles support the transition to clean energy, but there are deep disagreements on how this should be done. This situation indicates that energy policies will play a decisive role in Polish politics in the upcoming period.