Ex-Polish PM Morawiecki sets date for new party

Former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has said he will formally register a new political party by 15 October at the latest, after Poland’s ruling opposition grouping, Law and Justice (PiS), declared his membership effectively over.

Mateusz Morawiecki speaks at an event in Warsaw on 31 July, hosted by his Development Plus association for supporters of his initiative.PAP/Paweł Supernak

The move comes amid the biggest split in PiS in more than two decades.

Morawiecki founded the Development Plus (Rozwój Plus) association in April as a more moderate faction within the party, but PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński demanded its dissolution and ordered members to sign a pledge disavowing „external” groupings.

Around 40 of Morawiecki’s allies refused, and PiS referred them to its disciplinary officer rather than expelling them outright.

Speaking on the YouTube programme „Rymanowski Live,” Morawiecki was responding to comments from PiS disciplinary spokesman Karol Karski.

Earlier on Monday, Karski said the party membership of 40 lawmakers was now „dead” in practice, even though they remained formal members.

The group has already formed a separate parliamentary club.

According to Morawiecki, the remarks confirmed that PiS leadership had „wanted to push us out from the very beginning.”

He added: „Now that our membership is dead – meaning we’ve been completely removed from Law and Justice – I can say we will indeed found this party by 15 October at the latest.”

The date coincides with a party convention already announced by Development Plus, timed to mark the third anniversary of Poland’s 2023 parliamentary election.

(ał)

Source: tvp.info

Radio Poland