Following the merger of Sławomir Mentzen's New Hope party with the Imperium Kontratakuje group, a new statute has come into force. The document, described by "Rzeczpospolita," grants the party chairman, Mentzen, exceptional powers. According to it, he can independently admit members, bypassing standard procedures, and single-handedly impose disciplinary penalties, including expulsion from the party. Such powers are unprecedented in Polish politics and are sparking controversy among activists, who compare them to absolute power.

Merger and New Statute

Sławomir Mentzen's New Hope party has been formally incorporated into the Imperium Kontratakuje party. As a result of this technical change, the statute of the new entity came into force, significantly strengthening the position of the party's chairman.

Extraordinary Powers of the Chairman

The statute grants the party chairman, Sławomir Mentzen, the authority to independently admit members bypassing exams and recommendations, and to single-handedly impose disciplinary penalties, including expulsion from the party. These decisions take effect immediately.

Origin of Changes and Controversy

The changes are a consequence of New Hope being struck from the party register by a court in November due to the late submission of its financial report. The merger and new statute allow Mentzen to avoid the effects of the old party's delegalization, while simultaneously granting him power that the media compares to the authority of autocratic leaders.

Reactions and Comparisons

Mentzen's powers have been compared in the media to the authority of leaders of major political parties in Poland. Journalists and commentators point out that the scope of his competencies even exceeds that for which Jarosław Kaczyński of PiS or Donald Tusk of KO were known, raising concerns about intra-party democracy.

The new statute of the Imperium Kontratakuje party, which has merged with Sławomir Mentzen's New Hope, grants its chairman powers of an unprecedented scope on the Polish political scene. The document allows Mentzen to independently admit any person to the party, bypassing the standard procedure involving an exam, probationary period, and recommendation from local authorities. A person admitted this way automatically gains activist status. Furthermore, the chairman receives the right to single-handedly impose disciplinary penalties, including expelling members from the party. These decisions take effect on the day they are issued, without the need for consultation or appeal. As "Rzeczpospolita" notes, this gives the leader of the Confederation the ability to simultaneously shape the party's personnel composition and eliminate internal opponents. The changes are a direct consequence of New Hope's legal problems. In March 2025, the party failed to submit its financial report for the previous year on time. Restrictive regulations foresee the delegalization of a party even for a minor deadline overrun, which also occurred – in November, a court struck New Hope from the register of political parties. Although the party appealed this decision, the merger with Imperium Kontratakuje and the adoption of the new statute serve as a safeguard against its ultimate liquidation. In the Polish legal system, political parties are registered as associations and are subject to the Act on Associations and the Act on Political Parties. Party statutes must comply with the law, but they leave considerable freedom in shaping internal structure and the division of powers. Traditionally in Polish parties, even those with a strong leader, key personnel and disciplinary decisions are made collegially – by the board, a party court, or a general assembly of members. The media emphasize that the scope of power granted to Mentzen exceeds the powers for which other influential Polish politicians were known. As "Rzeczpospolita" writes, Mentzen can reach for power "that even Jarosław Kaczyński and Donald Tusk, accused of a leadership style of management, do not have." The mechanism of unanimous expulsion is particularly controversial, as it can be used to purge party ranks of individuals inconvenient to the leader. Activists within the confederation environment are said to express concerns related to these transitional provisions, especially regarding the election of new national party bodies. The new statute is therefore not only a solution to administrative problems but also significantly alters the balance of power within one of the key opposition parties.

Mentioned People

  • Sławomir Mentzen — Chairman of the New Hope party, one of the leaders of the Confederation.
  • Jarosław Kaczyński — Chairman of Law and Justice, often criticized for his strong position within the party.
  • Donald Tusk — Chairman of the Civic Platform, leader of the Civic Coalition.