Poland’s main opposition party, Law and Justice (PiS), is facing new internal strain after former prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki launched a political association backed by dozens of party-linked lawmakers.
Morawiecki, who led the country from 2017 to 2023, has registered the “Growth + Association,” describing it as a forum for “civic-minded conservatives who do not feel that any of the current parties speak for them.” According to figures released on April 15th, around 40 parliamentarians from the Polish parliament and the European Parliament have joined—enough to form a separate parliamentary grouping.
The move has raised concerns within PiS about party unity. Some members warn it could function as a “party within a party,” while leader Jarosław Kaczyński has expressed reservations in internal discussions.
Przemysław Czarnek, recently presented as PiS’s candidate for prime minister, criticised the initiative on social media, writing that those who seek to divide the political Right risk acting against the interests of the country.
Morawiecki has defended the project, arguing that similar organisations linked to PiS figures have existed in the past, including those associated with former justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro. He has also said the party should focus on defending its record in government, particularly on economic and social policy.
The development comes amid broader differences within PiS over how to expand its support base, including whether to appeal more to centrist voters or consolidate support on the political right.
The debate follows PiS’s decision to confirm Czarnek as its candidate for prime minister at a party congress in Kraków on March 7th, where Kaczyński emphasised the importance of unity ahead of upcoming parliamentary elections.
