Key facts
- Poland's ruling nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party has split.
- Former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and around three dozen MPs were expelled by party leader Jarosław Kaczyński.
- The expulsion followed their refusal to abandon an internal grouping seen as an attempt to form a splinter party.
- The split weakens the conservative bloc's position ahead of the 2027 general election.
- PiS's parliamentary seats will decrease, making it the second-largest caucus after Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Civic Coalition.
The nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, which governed Poland from 2015 to 2023, experienced a significant split on Friday. Party leader Jarosław Kaczyński expelled former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and approximately three dozen Members of Parliament for refusing to abandon an internal grouping. This internal division is seen as a major blow to the conservative camp's efforts to challenge the pro-EU government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk in the upcoming 2027 general election.
The rupture occurred after Kaczyński set a midnight deadline for MPs to sign loyalty declarations, which Morawiecki and his supporters declined. Morawiecki had formed an association called Rozwój Plus, which was widely interpreted as an attempt to build his own political base within or outside PiS. Despite earlier compromises, Morawiecki proceeded to formally register the association, leading to the confrontation.
Following the expulsion, Morawiecki's faction is expected to form a separate caucus in the Sejm, reducing PiS's parliamentary strength to an estimated 140-145 seats. This makes PiS the second-largest caucus, behind Tusk's Civic Coalition, which currently leads PiS in opinion polls. The split is anticipated to further fragment the conservative and nationalist vote, potentially benefiting smaller far-right parties and Morawiecki's more moderate group.
Morawiecki's supporters argue that their goal was to broaden PiS's appeal beyond the radical right-wing base, a strategy seemingly at odds with Kaczyński's selection of hardliners like Przemysław Czarnek as potential prime ministerial candidates. Despite the internal division on the right, analysts suggest Tusk's coalition may still face challenges in forming a stable governing majority.