Polish Deputy Defense Minister: Kaczyński 'has gone a bit mad'
Translated from Polish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- A Polish deputy defense minister criticized the internal divisions within the Law and Justice (PiS) party, likening it to "Bolshevik methods."
- He suggested that Jarosław Kaczyński, the party leader, has lost his grip on the party's ideological direction and is making strategic errors.
- The deputy minister also dismissed the possibility of cooperation between his party (KO) and factions within PiS, particularly those aligned with former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.
Cezary Tomczyk, Poland's deputy minister of national defense, has sharply criticized the internal turmoil within the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, characterizing its recent actions as "Bolshevik methods." Tomczyk's remarks come amid reports of significant rifts and purges within the conservative party.
Tomczyk suggested that PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński has lost his authority and strategic clarity, making fundamental errors in judgment. He drew a historical parallel to the Soviet era, where individuals were removed from photographs if they fell out of political favor, implying a similar ruthless purging is occurring within PiS. "It seems that Kaczyński has gone a bit mad," Tomczyk stated, referring to Kaczyński's decision to compete with radical politician Grzegorz Braun on extremism.
The deputy minister further asserted that the current infighting within PiS signals a "complete bankruptcy" of the political camp, driven by a desperate struggle for power. He specifically addressed claims that former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki opposed the purchase of F-35 fighter jets, suggesting this narrative is an attempt to isolate Morawiecki from his American allies and portray him as never having been truly pro-American or aligned with PiS.
Tomczyk ruled out any potential cooperation between his party, Civic Coalition (KO), and any factions emerging from the PiS schism, particularly those associated with Morawiecki. He stated, "I cannot imagine cooperation with these people."
Originally published by Rzeczpospolita in Polish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.