Poland’s Kaczyński reaffirms PiS candidate for PM in 2027

Polish opposition leader Jarosław Kaczyński has reaffirmed former education minister Przemysław Czarnek as the Law and Justice (PiS) party’s prime ministerial candidate ahead of next year’s parliamentary election, amid speculation of a switch.

Przemysław CzarnekPAP/Łukasz Gągulski

„The Law and Justice party’s candidate for prime minister is Prof. Przemysław Czarnek, and nothing has changed in this regard,” Kaczyński wrote on X on Friday.

His statement followed media reports that PiS was considering replacing Czarnek with Zbigniew Bogucki, chief of staff to President Karol Nawrocki, or European Parliament member Tobiasz Bocheński.

The speculation comes as PiS faces growing fragmentation on the right after losing power in 2023 following eight years in government.

The party is under pressure from both within and outside its ranks as it seeks to close the gap with the governing coalition.

The far-right Confederation party has been gaining ground, while allies of former PiS Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki have launched their own political movement.

Opinion polls have shown PiS losing support since the start of the year.

A poll conducted for private broadcaster Polsat News from July 29 to August 2 put the Civic Coalition (KO), the leading force in the governing coalition, in first place with 27.5 percent support, followed by PiS at 16.9 percent and Confederation at 14.4 percent.

Morawiecki’s Development Plus grouping received 7.8 percent support, according to the poll, which would be enough to clear the threshold for entering parliament.

Czarnek, a former education minister and one of PiS’s most hard-line conservatives, was named the party’s candidate for prime minister in March.

Political analysts say his candidacy could help PiS win back voters who have shifted to Confederation while keeping its conservative base mobilized.

But his polarizing profile could also make it harder for the party to attract centrist voters, they say.

Morawiecki’s new grouping could further weaken PiS by drawing away conservative voters, but it could also serve as a temporary home for dissatisfied members of the right-wing electorate, analysts say.

Mateusz Morawiecki, Jarosław Kaczyński and Przemysław Czarnek. Photo: PiS X/@OficjalnyJK

Whether the faction succeeds in establishing itself as a lasting political force or fails to do so, PiS may seek to strategically rebuild ties with voters and politicians on the right ahead of the autumn 2027 election.

For Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s governing centrist coalition, led by the Civic Coalition (KO) party, a fragmented opposition could improve its chances of staying in power.

But if PiS manages to keep rival right-wing factions within its orbit and rebuild the conservative camp before the election, the fragmentation could instead produce a much tighter race, analysts say.

(ak/gs)

Source: IAR, PAP

Radio Poland