Polish opposition expels 40 lawmakers who formed breakaway caucus led by ex-PM Morawiecki

Poland’s largest opposition party, the national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS), has formally expelled 40 lawmakers, including former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, after they formed a breakaway parliamentary caucus known as Development Plus. The decision marks the culmination of a months-long rift within the party, triggered by Morawiecki and his allies' refusal to resign from a political association they had established and to sign a loyalty pledge to PiS. According to PiS disciplinary spokesman Karol Karski, the disciplinary court determined that the lawmakers had seriously violated the party’s statutes by leaving the PiS parliamentary caucus and founding a new one. All 40, including Morawiecki, were informed of the decision via email and given seven days to appeal. If no appeal is submitted, they will lose their membership in PiS. The expelled lawmakers included several former government ministers such as Janusz Cieszyński, Paweł Jabłoński, Olga Semeniuk-Patkowska, and Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk. Morawiecki, who previously held the position of prime minister from 2017 to 2023, has confirmed that his Development Plus group will soon establish itself as a separate political party. He has ruled out any collaboration with the current government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. This move signals a definitive break from PiS, despite having once been a key figure within the party. Morawiecki and his supporters had long felt disillusioned with PiS’s increasing shift toward hard-right policies under the leadership of party head Jarosław Kaczyński. The formation of Development Plus in April was intended to promote more moderate policies and expand the party’s appeal beyond its traditional base. However, this initiative sparked controversy among some PiS members, who viewed it as a prelude to a breakaway movement. The situation escalated in late July when Morawiecki and his allies refused to sign a loyalty pledge, prompting Kaczyński to declare that they had essentially resigned from the party. In response to the expulsion, some of the affected lawmakers expressed their frustration. Grzegorz Puda, another former minister, criticized PiS for expelling someone who had dedicated himself to the party’s success, arguing that the decision was based solely on the desire to widen the party’s voter base. Łukasz Schreiber, meanwhile, suggested that the real decision to expel them had already been made when Kaczyński declared in July that their refusal to sign the loyalty pledge amounted to resignation. For Schreiber, subsequent actions were merely procedural. The internal conflict within PiS reflects broader challenges facing the party. Since losing power to the liberal coalition led by Tusk in 2023, PiS has struggled to maintain its influence, with its popularity dropping to levels not seen in over 15 years. In an effort to counter rising support for the far right, Kaczyński has pushed the party further to the right, alienating moderates like Morawiecki. The split has weakened PiS both internally and externally, raising concerns about its ability to remain a dominant force in Polish politics. Despite the turmoil, the emergence of a new centre-right party led by Morawiecki could potentially benefit the opposition. Analysts suggest that such a development might enable the opposition to secure a parliamentary majority in the upcoming elections. As the situation unfolds, the political landscape in Poland continues to evolve, with implications for the country’s future governance.