Latest news with #ThirdWay
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Polish lawmakers to hold confidence vote in Tusk government on June 11
Parliament Speaker Szymon Holownia, presidential candidate from the centrist Third Way coalition, and his wife Urszula Brzezinska - Holownia attend meeting with supporters during final day of his campaign at a theatre in Warsaw, Poland, May 16, 2025. Jacek Marczewski / Agencja via REUTERS/ File Photo WARSAW - Polish lawmakers will hold a vote of confidence in the government on June 11, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday as he seeks to shore up his centre-left coalition after Sunday's presidential election loss. Tusk's candidate for president, liberal Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, lost the ballot to eurosceptic historian Karol Nawrocki in a blow to the government's efforts to cement Warsaw's pro-European orientation. "This vote is not an effort to continue what we had been doing before because we know that some things can be done better, faster," Tusk told reporters. "This is meant as a day of a new momentum." Political observers say Tusk's Sunday ballot loss was in part a sign of growing discontent with his government's progress in making good on election promises that propelled him to power 18 months ago. A CBOS poll from late May showed only 32% of Poles supported the current government. Tusk's coalition ended eight years of nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) rule in 2023, with the centrist former European Council president vowing to repair what he says was damage to democratic rule and women's and minority rights under his predecessors. Nawrocki built his campaign in recent months on a pledge to prioritise the needs of Poles over those of migrants or refugees from the Ukraine war, in echoes of U.S. President Donald Trump's MAGA rhetoric. He is likely to use his presidential veto to thwart Tusk's liberal policy agenda. Tusk has a comfortable majority in parliament, but some commentators have said Tusk's difficulties over the last 18 months came in part from frictions between his leftist and centre-right allies over issues such as abortion. One of the key promises of his government was a plan to ease the country's near-total abortion ban introduced under the PiS government. "There is a fundamental question here: what is the goal of Tusk's coalition," said Anna Materska-Sosnowska from Warsaw University. "Is it about more than just parliamentary or government positions? If yes, then the coalition needs to put its own ambitions aside and play for the same team." But while he may have room to build more effective consensus within the coalition, Tusk is likely to struggle to persuade Nawrocki, an arch-conservative, to back policies such as more access to abortion. Outgoing President Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally, had made it clear he would veto any such efforts, and Nawrocki said he would follow him. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Polish parliament speaker says confidence vote should be next week
Parliament Speaker Szymon Holownia, presidential candidate from the centrist Third Way coalition, and his wife Urszula Brzezinska - Holownia attend meeting with supporters during final day of his campaign at a theatre in Warsaw, Poland, May 16, 2025. Jacek Marczewski / Agencja via REUTERS/ File Photo Polish parliament speaker says confidence vote should be next week WARSAW - Polish Parliament Speaker Szymon Holownia proposed on Tuesday that a vote of confidence in the government should take place in a week at an additional session of parliament. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Monday he would call for a parliamentary vote of confidence in his coalition government, after his candidate, Rafal Trzaskowski, lost a presidential election on Sunday. "We are hearing information that it should be soon. I convinced the Prime Minister that we should wait with this for a while," Holownia told journalists. "I suggested to the Prime Minister that the motion be submitted this week so that we can discuss it at an additional session on Tuesday." Nationalist opposition candidate Karol Nawrocki narrowly won Poland's presidential election, delivering a blow to the centrist government's efforts to cement Warsaw's pro-European orientation. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Gulf Today
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Labour should embrace a bold agenda to counter opposition
Labour should not mimick right-wing populist strategies following disappointing local election results, a new report from The Institute For Public Policy Research (IPPR) has warned. Instead, the influential think tank urges the party to embrace a bold, progressive agenda to counter the rising tide of populism. The IPPR, which played a key role in shaping policy during the Blair and Brown years, argues that simply rehashing past Labour approaches won't suffice in the current political climate. Titled 'Facing the future' and backed by former Labour Foreign Secretary David Miliband, the report serves as a counterpoint to groups like Blue Labour. The campaign group has suggested that Labour should adopt some of the rhetoric and policies of their right-wing opponents to combat the surge in popularity of parties like Reform UK. Following significant losses to Reform UK in May's local elections, Labour has emphasised action on issues like migration and crime — areas where Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has taken a hardline stance. However, the IPPR warns that this approach risks playing into the hands of the populists. The think tank, which has seen several staff members join Keir Starmer's team, contends that the "forward march of populism is in full swing" and requires a different response. The report advocates for a forward-looking, progressive agenda as the most effective way to challenge the populist narrative. Labour should "shift from defence to offence, from reactive to proactive, from apology to confidence", and show itself to be "a disruptor, not defender, of the status quo" in order to combat its insurgent political foes, it said. The report, which is directed not just at Labour, but progressive parties across the Western world, suggested ministers face a hard task because "the progressive engine of ideas seems to have run out of steam". "When parties don't have new ideas, they reach back for old ones, or imitate others. Neither of these approaches will work at a moment of great change and challenge," it said. In a stark warning not to rehash the ideas of New Labour, or even older Labour governments, the IPPR added that progressives "cannot simply reach back to yesterday's men in search of their ideas, goals and policies". "Their world has dissolved, so their ideas are out of date," the report added. The rising importance of national borders, broken faith in the global financial markets, and a lack of common public ground due to the fragmented way people now read the news, are among the reasons Labour cannot simply attempt to re-hash the so-called "Third Way" of politics it championed in the 1990s and 2000s, the IPPR said. The populist right's brand is meanwhile boosted when Labour and other progressive parties attempt to ape their ideas, the think tank warned. "The challenge is to address the changes and grievances they speak to, but with progressive ideas and solutions," it added. David Miliband, the former Labour foreign secretary and brother to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, gave his backing to the research. Mr Miliband, who wrote the report's foreword, said adopting new ideas could lead Labour to oversee a "virtuous circle of social, political and economic renewal, in which security and opportunity reinforce each other". He added: "That is what happened after Labour was elected in 1945 and 1997, and what is needed again. The policies of those periods are time-bound; no one is suggesting those policies should be regurgitated. But the lessons in how new ideas can power new politics are important." The report concludes by saying Labour and its political allies around the world must now discuss and share progressive ideas for governing in the near future, a period which could be "destabilising". The Labour Government, because of the long period before the next general election is expected to take place, has a chance to play a "co-ordinating role" in these efforts, it added.
Powys County Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Labour ‘should not aim to copy right-wing populism but offer alternatives'
Labour should not copy the ideas of rising right-wing populists following its poor showing in local elections, but counter them with a bold, progressive agenda, the latest report by an influential think tank warns. The Government cannot simply retry the ideas of past Labour administrations in the modern era if it wants to hold onto power, the Institute For Public Policy Research (IPPR) also said in its latest research, backed by former Labour foreign secretary David Miliband. The report can be read as somewhat of a counter to groups like Blue Labour, which have suggested ministers adopt some of the ideas and language of the party's opponents on the political right in order to counter the rise of populist parties like Reform UK. Following the May local elections, in which Labour lost a broad swathe of council seats across England to Reform UK, ministers have emphasised action to tackle migration and crime, policy areas where Reform leader Nigel Farage has sought to present a tough front. The IPPR, which was influential on policy during the Blair and Brown governments and has seen several of its staff move into Sir Keir Starmer's administration, warned the 'forward march of populism is in full swing' in its report titled 'Facing the future'. Labour should 'shift from defence to offence, from reactive to proactive, from apology to confidence', and show itself to be 'a disruptor, not defender, of the status quo' in order to combat its insurgent political foes, it said. The report, which is directed not just at Labour, but progressive parties across the Western world, suggested ministers face a hard task because 'the progressive engine of ideas seems to have run out of steam'. 'When parties don't have new ideas, they reach back for old ones, or imitate others. Neither of these approaches will work at a moment of great change and challenge,' it said. In a stark warning not to rehash the ideas of New Labour, or even older Labour governments, the IPPR added that progressives 'cannot simply reach back to yesterday's men in search of their ideas, goals and policies'. 'Their world has dissolved, so their ideas are out of date,' the report added. The rising importance of national borders, broken faith in the global financial markets, and a lack of common public ground due to the fragmented way people now read the news, are among the reasons Labour cannot simply attempt to re-hash the so-called 'Third Way' of politics it championed in the 1990s and 2000s, the IPPR said. The populist right's brand is meanwhile boosted when Labour and other progressive parties attempt to ape their ideas, the think tank warned. 'The challenge is to address the changes and grievances they speak to, but with progressive ideas and solutions,' it added. David Miliband, the former Labour foreign secretary and brother to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, gave his backing to the research. Mr Miliband, who wrote the report's foreword, said adopting new ideas could lead Labour to oversee a 'virtuous circle of social, political and economic renewal, in which security and opportunity reinforce each other'. He added: 'That is what happened after Labour was elected in 1945 and 1997, and what is needed again. The policies of those periods are time-bound; no one is suggesting those policies should be regurgitated. But the lessons in how new ideas can power new politics are important.' The report concludes by saying Labour and its political allies around the world must now discuss and share progressive ideas for governing in the near future, a period which could be 'destabilising'. The Labour Government, because of the long period before the next general election is expected to take place, has a chance to play a 'co-ordinating role' in these efforts, it added.
Rhyl Journal
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Labour ‘should not aim to copy right-wing populism but offer alternatives'
The Government cannot simply retry the ideas of past Labour administrations in the modern era if it wants to hold onto power, the Institute For Public Policy Research (IPPR) also said in its latest research, backed by former Labour foreign secretary David Miliband. The report can be read as somewhat of a counter to groups like Blue Labour, which have suggested ministers adopt some of the ideas and language of the party's opponents on the political right in order to counter the rise of populist parties like Reform UK. Following the May local elections, in which Labour lost a broad swathe of council seats across England to Reform UK, ministers have emphasised action to tackle migration and crime, policy areas where Reform leader Nigel Farage has sought to present a tough front. The IPPR, which was influential on policy during the Blair and Brown governments and has seen several of its staff move into Sir Keir Starmer's administration, warned the 'forward march of populism is in full swing' in its report titled 'Facing the future'. Labour should 'shift from defence to offence, from reactive to proactive, from apology to confidence', and show itself to be 'a disruptor, not defender, of the status quo' in order to combat its insurgent political foes, it said. The report, which is directed not just at Labour, but progressive parties across the Western world, suggested ministers face a hard task because 'the progressive engine of ideas seems to have run out of steam'. 'When parties don't have new ideas, they reach back for old ones, or imitate others. Neither of these approaches will work at a moment of great change and challenge,' it said. In a stark warning not to rehash the ideas of New Labour, or even older Labour governments, the IPPR added that progressives 'cannot simply reach back to yesterday's men in search of their ideas, goals and policies'. 'Their world has dissolved, so their ideas are out of date,' the report added. The rising importance of national borders, broken faith in the global financial markets, and a lack of common public ground due to the fragmented way people now read the news, are among the reasons Labour cannot simply attempt to re-hash the so-called 'Third Way' of politics it championed in the 1990s and 2000s, the IPPR said. The populist right's brand is meanwhile boosted when Labour and other progressive parties attempt to ape their ideas, the think tank warned. 'The challenge is to address the changes and grievances they speak to, but with progressive ideas and solutions,' it added. David Miliband, the former Labour foreign secretary and brother to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, gave his backing to the research. Mr Miliband, who wrote the report's foreword, said adopting new ideas could lead Labour to oversee a 'virtuous circle of social, political and economic renewal, in which security and opportunity reinforce each other'. He added: 'That is what happened after Labour was elected in 1945 and 1997, and what is needed again. The policies of those periods are time-bound; no one is suggesting those policies should be regurgitated. But the lessons in how new ideas can power new politics are important.' The report concludes by saying Labour and its political allies around the world must now discuss and share progressive ideas for governing in the near future, a period which could be 'destabilising'. The Labour Government, because of the long period before the next general election is expected to take place, has a chance to play a 'co-ordinating role' in these efforts, it added.
