Morawiecki to form own club in Polish parliament if expelled from PiS

A significant political rift is deepening within Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, as former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki declared his intention to establish a new parliamentary club if his faction, "Rozwoj Plus," is formally expelled.

Morawiecki announced that he has convened a meeting of his associated lawmakers and parliamentary representatives for Tuesday evening. "If they expel us from the party and the club, we will form our own club," he stated in an interview, indicating that this new political entity could be established as early as this week. "Rozwoj Plus" is the preliminary name for the group, with Morawiecki likely to serve as its chairman. Upon its formation, the club would rank as the third-largest in the Sejm, Poland's lower house of parliament.

The primary objective for the new group, according to Morawiecki, will be to develop a strategy for upcoming elections. "The most important thing is that we form ourselves in a suitable way and discuss the plan of action until the elections. How do we convince Poles that a conservative, identity-based, patriotic, but center-right offer for Poles is something worth paying attention to?" he questioned.

The internal conflict within PiS intensified after a deadline passed last week for lawmakers to sign a declaration affirming they were not members of other political associations and would not participate in their activities within the party. PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski stated that some politicians had consciously chosen to leave the party by refusing to sign the document. However, Morawiecki and his allies maintain they have not relinquished their PiS membership.

Additionally, Morawiecki announced on Monday his plan to resign as chairman of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group in the European Parliament. He cited that if his group forms a separate platform, it would no longer be the second-strongest force within the ECR. He did, however, leave open the possibility of reconsidering his decision if party representatives requested him to remain in the post.