Poland’s ruling coalition has been rocked by a dramatic split within its junior partner, Poland 2050, after senior figures defected to form a new parliamentary group.
Climate Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska announced on Wednesday, February 18th that she and 17 other parliamentarians were leaving the centrist party to establish a grouping named Centre (Centrum). The breakaway includes 15 lower-house MPs and three senators.
The rupture follows a leadership contest won by Funds and Regional Policy Minister Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, who defeated Hennig-Kloska in a run-off ballot.
Tensions escalated after party co-founder Michał Kobosko quit, accusing the leadership of imposing a “dictatorship” through new internal rules.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk sought to soothe nervescalm concerns, saying both ministers had pledged loyalty to the governing camp. He insisted his coalition would remain stable until the 2027 election.
However, the split comes as Poland 2050 languishes on just 2% in opinion polls, well below the 5% threshold for parliamentary representation.
Tusk’s liberal Civic Coalition leads on 33%, ahead of the opposition conservative Law and Justice party on 28%. Two additional right-wing parties—Konfederacja on 11% and the Confederation of the Polish Crown on 10%—together command significant support. Combined, the three right-leaning parties poll close to half of the electorate.
