30 Lawmakers Are Leaving The Polish "Law And Justice" Party

A group led by the former prime minister has split from the largest opposition party.

More than 30 lawmakers have left Poland’s largest opposition party, “Law and Justice.” This was officially announced today by the party’s leader Jarosław Kaczyński

“More than 30—the exact number is not yet known, but based on the final decisions, we can already say that more than 30 members of our party have resigned. Therefore, next Tuesday, the Political Committee will hold a meeting to acknowledge this fact,” he was quoted as saying by “Rzeczpospolita”.

On the night of July 23–24, the deadline expired for the ultimatum that the PiS leadership had issued to former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and members of the “Development Plus” group he had founded. On July 15, the PiS Political Committee adopted a resolution requiring all party lawmakers to sign a statement pledging to cease their activities in this association, under threat of expulsion from the party. Morawiecki’s group is considered more moderate; there is also a more right-wing faction within PiS that supports the official candidate for prime minister in the upcoming elections, Przemysław Czarnik.

On July 17, members of Morawiecki’s faction emphasized in a letter addressed to PiS Chairman Jarosław Kaczyński that their goal is party unity and winning back voter groups that have drifted away from the party in recent years. The letter was signed by 45 PiS politicians—Sejm deputies, senators, and Members of the European Parliament. On the same day, Kaczyński met with Morawiecki, though the meeting did not lead to a resolution of the situation. A party spokesperson stated at the time that the decision requiring members to leave the associations remains in effect.

On July 23, Mateusz Morawiecki met with Jarosław Kaczyński. During the meeting, Morawiecki reportedly proposed a compromise—specifically, his willingness to step down from his position as vice-chairman of PiS—but the 21 demands he put forward were apparently not accepted. Morawiecki refused to sign the statement that the party leadership demanded of PiS lawmakers. Jarosław Kaczyński, however, signed the statement himself.

A statement from Mateusz Morawiecki is expected today. He may announce the formation of his own party.

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