Why did Poland have short-lived coalition governments after the 1991 election?

Following the 1991 legislative election in Poland, the country experienced a succession of short-lived coalition governments primarily because no single political party was able to secure more than one-eighth of the total vote.1

This political fragmentation was exacerbated by the disintegration of the Solidarity movement, which had previously served as a unified force against the communist regime. As the social and economic costs of the transition to a free-market system became apparent, Solidarity split into several smaller, competing groups.21

The resulting political instability was further fueled by:
* Internal Infighting: Personality clashes and deep divisions within the Solidarity camp weakened its ability to maintain a stable governing majority.23
* Political Polarization: Right-wing factions were splintered and frequently accused the government of compromising with former communists, while centrist parties like the Freedom Union struggled to connect with the broader electorate.23
* Controversial Governance: Cabinets, such as those led by Jan Olszewski and Hanna Suchocka, faced collapse due to internal disputes, failed policy initiatives, or unexpected no-confidence votes.23