Adam Bielan elected president of European Conservatives and Reformists Party

Leadership election and party transition

The Board of Directors of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Party elected Polish member of the European Parliament Adam Bielan as its new president on 12 September 2026. Bielan, who leads the Law and Justice (PiS) delegation in the European Parliament, succeeds former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. Morawiecki held the party presidency from January 2025 until late July 2026, when he resigned to focus on domestic politics after founding the Rozwój Plus movement and departing PiS.

Following Morawiecki's resignation, Italian MEP Carlo Fidanza of Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d'Italia) assumed interim leadership and initiated the election process for a permanent president. Bielan secured backing from Brothers of Italy, the largest delegation in the ECR group by seat count, after PiS internal discussions also considered Tobiasz Bocheński.

Strategic priorities and electoral calendar

Bielan stated that the party's primary objective under his tenure is achieving success in the European Parliament elections scheduled in two and a half years. The ECR currently represents the fourth-largest political group in the European Parliament. Bielan noted that strengthening the European party depends directly on the electoral performance of its national member parties in upcoming domestic ballots.

The upcoming electoral cycle begins with parliamentary elections in Sweden, where the Sweden Democrats seek victory, followed by legislative elections in Latvia, where two co-governing ECR member parties are contesting re-election. The schedule continues next year with national elections in Italy, France, Spain, and Poland, where Bielan indicated the conservative group aims to maintain governing status in Rome and enter government in Madrid and Warsaw.

“It is a great honour and responsibility to lead the ECR Party. Our political family is growing because more and more people across Europe want a change in the direction of the European Union. We want to strengthen the conservative movement, defend the sovereignty of our nations, and build a Europe that is secure, competitive, and confident in its identity. Together with our member parties and partners, we are ready to take greater responsibility for the future of Europe.”

Policy platform and founding ties

Bielan's selection connects to the early history of the ECR, as he was an original signatory of the Prague Declaration that founded the political party 17 years ago. In comments following the vote, Bielan argued that the European Union faces excessive regulatory burdens that constrain economic competitiveness, alongside friction in transatlantic relations and challenges to free speech.

The official ECR communique confirmed that Bielan's presidency will focus on expanding the political family and advocating policies based on national sovereignty, security, economic competitiveness, and European identity. Bielan also pointed to member-state resistance to European Union climate regulations and migration management as validation of long-standing party stances. Following his election, Bielan publicly thanked his three predecessors in the post, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Morawiecki, and Czech politician Jan Zahradil.